THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 

ALEXANDER  B.  ANDREWS 

Class  of  1893 

TRUSTEE  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY 

FRIEND  OF  THE  LIBRARY 


SfoZo 


c.4- 


WILLIAM  WEST  SKILES 

A  SKETCH  OF 

MISSIONARY  LIFE  AT  VALLE  CRUCIS 

IN  WESTERN  NORTH  CAROLINA 
1 842- 1 862 

"The  modest  merit  of  this  man  is  rare." — Church  bitelh'gencer 
EDITED    BY 

SUSAN    FENIMORE    COOPER 

AUTHOR  OF  "RURAL  HOURS,1'  ETC.,  ETC. 


NEW  YORK 

JAMES   POTT   &   CO.,    Publishers 

1890 


Copyright,  1S89,  by 
JAMES  POTT  &  CO. 


Press  of  J.  J.  Little  &  Co. 
Astor  Place,  New  York. 


PREFACE 


This  brief  record  of  a  good  man's  life,  as 
missionary,  has  been  written  in  compliance 
with  the  expressed  wish  of  that  revered  Father 
in  God,  Bishop  Atkinson. 

Materials  for  the  volume  have  been  most 
kindly  provided  by  a  number  of  prominent 
clergymen,  contemporaries  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Skiles  in  the  Diocese  of  North  Carolina. 
Among  these  may  be  named  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wat- 
son, now  Bishop  Watson  of  East  Carolina,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Jarvis  Buxton,  the  Rev.  Henry  H. 
Prout,  the  Rev.  Dr.  George  Wetmore,  and  the 
Rev.  William  Glennie  French. 

To  Mr.  George  N.  Evans,  the  zealous  lay- 
man, the  faithful  friend  and  fellow-labourer  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Skiles,  the  editor  is  also  largely 
indebted  for  many  details  regarding  the  daily 
life  of  the  missionary,  and  the  country  over 
which  he  travelled. 

July  15,  1889. 


MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  WEST  SKILES, 
Missionary  in  Western  North  Carolina. 

I. 

SOME  fifty  years  since,  the  valley  of  the 
Watauga,  in  North  Carolina,  was  a  secluded 
region,  isolated  and  forgotten,  a  mountain 
wilderness,  showing  only  here  and  there  the 
first  rude  touches  of  civilization.  The  narrow 
winding  trail  or  foot-path,  the  rough  sled-road, 
often  dangerous  for  wheels,  here  and  there  a 
log  cabin,  with  a  narrow,  rough  clearing  about 
it,  or  at  long  intervals  a  rude  saw-mill  or  grist- 
mill, with  perchance  a  small,  unpainted  frame 
dwelling,  or  a  blacksmith  shop  and  a  humble 
backwoods  store,  marking  the  beginning  of  a 
hamlet,  such  were  the  only  traces  of  human 
habitation  to  be  found  on  the  banks  of  the 
stream.  But  the  Highland  valley  was  magni- 
fc*  ficent  in  natural  beauty.  It  lay  in  the  ele- 
f0  vated   countrv  between   the  Blue   Ridge  and 

d 

0 

t 


'&' 


6         xMEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

the  Alleghanies,  nearly  three  thousand  feet 
above  the  sea,  while  grand  old  mountains  of 
successive  ranges,  broken  into  a  hundred  peaks, 
rose  to  nearly  double  that  height  on  either 
hand — many  so  near  that  their  distinctive 
features  could  be  clearly  seen,  while  others 
were  only  dimly  outlined  in  the  distance. 
These  mountain  ranges  were  peculiarly  inter- 
esting, differing  in  some  particulars  from  those 
in  other  parts  of  the  country.  Their  vegeta- 
tion was  singularly  rich  and  varied. 

About  the  year  1840,  a  gentleman  from  New 
York,  after  wandering  in  the  low  country  of 
North  Carolina,  on  a  botanical  excursion,  de- 
termined to  penetrate  into  the  isolated  region 
beyond  the  Blue  Ridge,  in  quest  of  rare 
plants.  After  leaving  the  beautiful  little  vil- 
lage of  Lenoir,  the  road  at  length  followed  the 
bank  of  the  Yadkin,  until  it  reached  the  Blow- 
ing Rock  Gap,  in  a  spur  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 
The  Blowing  Rock  Mountain  derived  its  name 
from  a  powerful  wind  rising  with  increas- 
ing force  from  the  depths  of  a  dark  canon  a 
thousand  feet  below,  and  sweeping  over  a 
ledge    of   rock  on    the   mountain    side.      The 


MEMOIR   OF    WILLIAM    WEST    SKILES.        / 

rough  track  crossed  this  Blowing  Rock  at  an 
elevation  of  two  thousand  feet  above  the  val- 
ley below,  winding  over  heights  which  were 
not  precipitous,  but  steep,  declivities.  The 
head-springs  of  the  Yadkin,  always  very  cool 
and  refreshing,  were  passed.  The  Yadkin,  it 
will  be  remembered,  is  the  main  tributary  of 
the  Pedee,  flowing  into  the  Atlantic.  The  head- 
waters of  the  John's  River,  flowing  into  the 
Catawba,  were  also  passed,  only  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  beyond.  A  little  to  the  northward,  on 
the  western  declivities  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  lay 
the  head-springs  of  the  New  River,  flowing 
into  the  Great  Kanawha,  and  thence  through 
the  Ohio  and  the  Mississippi,  into  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico.  The  Blue  Ridge  is  crossed  by  no 
stream.  It  is  the  dividing  range  in  North 
Carolina. 

Following  the  Blue  Ridge  for  several  miles 
farther,  the  track  left  the  mountains  where 
they  trend  westward  and  wound  downward 
into  the  valley  of  the  Watauga,  amid  an  un- 
ceasing accompaniment  of  brooks  and  cas- 
cades. This  wealth  of  clear,  bright  waters 
gave  a  peculiar  character  to  the  country;  their 


8         xMEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

murmur  was  ever  in  the  traveller's  ear.  And 
the  profusion  of  magnificent  flowers,  large  in 
size  and  brilliant  in  colouring,  gave  additional 
charm  to  the  mountain  path ;  the  azaleas, 
pink,  purple,  and  orange ;  the  grand  rhodo- 
dendrons, rose  and  purple ;  the  laurel,  scarlet 
trumpet  flowers,  the  large  yellow  honeysuckle, 
and  many  others  were  thronging  the  under- 
growth, cheering  the  wanderer  on  the  rude 
highland  track.  There  was  something  of 
gloom  in  the  picture,  too ;  the  height  of  the 
surrounding  mountains,  the  depth  of  the  val- 
leys and  gorges,  the  dense,  darkly  coloured  for- 
est, covering  hill  and  dale  with  a  sombre  green 
drapery,  broken  only  here  and  there  by  very 
small  clearings — all  these  told  of  the  wilder- 
ness. Leaving  the  open,  breezy  mountain- 
tops,  the  wanderer  seemed  plunging  down- 
ward into  a  basin,  dark,  mysterious,  and  all 
but  uncanny  in  its  sombre  aspect.  The  re- 
markable richness  and  beauty  of  the  vegeta- 
tion, however,  when  seen  in  detail,  either  on 
the  mountain-side,  or  in  the  few  cleared  acres, 
relieved  the  mind  from  what  there  might  be  of 
gloom  in  the  general  aspect.     After  an  abrupt 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.        9 

descent  of  500  feet,  the  Watauga  was  reached 
at  a  point  called  Shull's  Mill-pond,  2,917  feet 
above  the  sea,  about  five  miles  from  its  source. 
This  wild  stream  flows  from  the  western  face 
of  the  Grandfather,  the  highest  mountain  of 
that  group  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  which  reaches 
an  elevation  of  5,897  feet.  The  general  direc- 
tion of  the  stream  is  northward,  the  rude 
mountain  road  following  its  winding  course  ; 
at  one  point  the  track  was  so  narrow  that  it 
was  dangerous  for  waggons  to  attempt  passing 
each  other,  and  this  danger  continued  for  a 
distance  of  a  mile.  The  country  was  indeed 
too  thoroughly  wild,  and  too  thinly  peopled, 
to  allow  of  the  hope  of  a  good  road.  Only 
occasionally  the  traveller  passed  a  small,  rude 
log  cabin,  with  a  scant  strip  of  clearing  about 
it. 

It  was  in  this  wild,  and  yet  luxuriant  region, 
so  full  of  interest  to  the  botanist,  that  the 
traveller  from  New  York  wandered  for  a  time, 
gathering  treasures  for  his  herbarium,  and  de- 
lighting in  the  grand  beauty  of  the  country. 
He  also  became  interested  in  the  families  living 
in  the  rude    cabins  where  he  sought    shelter. 


10      MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

He  found  them  very  poor,  ignorant,  but  sim- 
ple, honest,  and  kindly,  though  very  quiet  and 
undemonstrative  in  manner.  They  received 
him  hospitably  and  gave  him  the  best  of  their 
mountain  fare.  And  they  were  anxious  for 
instruction.  On  his  return  northward  he  met 
Bishop  Ives,  and  spoke  warmly  of  the  gratifi- 
cation he  had  derived  from  his  excursion  on 
the  Watauga,  and  dwelt  earnestly  on  the  re- 
ligious privations  of  these  mountaineers;  "  An 
interesting  population  in  great  spiritual  desti- 
tution." 

Bishop  Ives  was  at  that  time  the  head  of  the 
Diocese  of  North  Carolina,  and  entirely  faithful 
to  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  which  had  con- 
secrated him  to  that  holy  office.  He  was  so 
much  interested  in  the  traveller's  report  that 
at  his  next  Visitation  of  the  Diocese  he  made 
his  way  across  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  on  the  20th 
of  July,  1842,  he  held  a  service  in  the  valley  of 
the  Watauga.  In  his  report  to  the  Convention 
of  the  Diocese  he  spoke  particularly  of  the 
people  : 

"  While  my  sympathies  were  deeply  excited  in  view  of  their 
great    spiritual    destitution,   my  admiration  was  at  the  same 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.      II 

time  awakened  by  the  simplicity  of  their  character,  and  the 
deep  earnestness  of  their  petition  for  instruction.  I  addressed 
a  few  of  them  on  their  wants,  and  promised  to  send  them,  the 
moment  it  should  be  in  my  power,  a  Missionary,  who  should 
teach  them  the  rudiments  of  knowledge,  and  preach  to  them 
the  Word  of  God." 

A  few  months  later,  in  December,  1842,  the 
Rev.  Henry  H.  Prout  came  to  fulfil  the  Bishop's 
promise.  His  labours  began  at  the  "  Lower 
Settlement,"  near  the  point  where  the  Watauga 
flows  into  Tennessee.  He  travelled  on  horse- 
back or  on  foot.  The  paths,  or  trails,  through 
the  grand  old  forest  were  often  obstructed  by- 
fallen  timber,  over  which  horse  and  rider  must 
needs  climb  as  best  they  could.  The  streams 
must  be  forded.  A  bridge,  even  of  the  rudest 
kind,  was  an  effort  of  civilization  to  be  found 
only  in  the  most  favoured  spots.  The  "  Lower 
Settlement "  was  at  that  date  a  scattered  hamlet 
of  the  rudest  kind,  but  it  became  the  centre  of 
Missionary  work.  On  Mr.  Prout's  arrival  he 
gave  notice  that  he  would  hold  a  service  on 
the  following  Sunday.  This  announcement 
made,  the  next  step — by  no  means  an  easy 
one — required  the  collecting  of  a  congregation. 


12      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

The  nearest  cabins  were  scattered  about,  within 
a  distance  of  a  dozen  miles,  along  the  banks  of 
the  streams,  on  the  mountain  sides,  or  in  the 
deep  forest  glens.  The  first  of  these  parochial 
visits  was  characteristic  of  many  others.  Fol- 
lowing the  bank  of  the  stream,  climbing  over 
fallen  timber,  or  creeping  under  the  great, 
moss-covered  mouldering  trunks,  the  Mission 
ary  came  at  last  to  a  solitary  cabin.  It  ap- 
peared desolate  and  deserted.  At  first  he 
thought  it  uninhabited,  but  as  he  drew  near  he 
discovered  a  faint  smoke  rising  from  the  low 
chimney,  and  perceived  the  smell  of  beef  boil- 
ing. He  knocked.  The  door  opened,  and  a 
wild-looking  woman  appeared,  amazed  and  be- 
wildered by  this  civilized  visiter.  She  gave 
him  the  usual  backwoods  salutation:  "What 
mout  yer  name  be?"  "What  mout  be  yer 
business?"  He  was  invited  in,  however,  and 
made  welcome  after  a  rude  fashion.  A  small 
rough  table  stood  on  the  earthen  floor ;  opposite 
the  great  yawning  stone  chimney  stood  a  bench 
against  the  wall ;  these,  with  the  iron  pot  on 
the  crane,  were  the  chief  furniture  of  this 
mountain    cabin.      The  Missionary   explained 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.      1 3 

his  errand,  which  excited  a  sort  of  dull  won- 
der. The  Gospel  message  was  respectfully 
received,  however,  and  the  good  man  passed 
on  to  another  cabin,  and  by  the  like  rough 
paths.  Thus  the  week  was  spent,  and  the 
blessed  Lord's  Day  came  round.  The  service 
was  held  in  a  cabin  at  the  "  Lower  Settle- 
ment." It  was  well  attended.  Men  and 
women  came  straggling  in,  many  on  foot, 
some  on  horseback,  the  wife  in  sun-bonnet 
and  straight,  narrow  gown,  riding  behind  her 
husband.  Here  and  there  a  woman  was  seen 
mounted  on  a  steer,  with  a  child  or  two  in  her 
arms,  while  the  husband,  walking  beside  them, 
goad  in  hand,  guided  the  animal  over  the 
rough  path.  The  women  all  wore  sun-bon- 
nets, or  handkerchiefs  tied  over  their  heads. 
Some  were  bare-footed.  There  were  many 
more  feet  than  shoes  in  the  congregation. 
The  boys  and  girls,  even  when  full  grown, 
were  often  bare-footed.  This  was  no  doubt 
the  first  service  of  our  Church  held  in  that 
region.  And  it  was  declared  to  be  the  first 
religious  service  of  any  kind  held  in  the  valley 
of  the  Watauga  for  seven  years.     The  simple 


14      MEMOIR    OF   WILLIAM   WEST    SKILES. 

folk  showed  themselves  interested  and  grate- 
ful. Regular  services  followed,  and  as  a  con- 
sequence of  the  naturally  civilizing  effect  of  a 
reverent  and  dignified  Christian  worship,  the 
people  began  of  their  own  accord  to  wash  and 
mend  their  clothing  more  carefully,  to  aim  at 
a  more  respectable  appearance  in  public  for 
themselves  and  their  children.  The  cabin  in 
which  the  services  were  held  soon  became  too 
small.  The  school  began.  A  school-house  of 
logs,  large  enough  for  the  Sunday  services,  was 
built.  Little  improvements  appeared,  and  at 
the  end  of  several  months  a  visiter,  who  had 
known  the  hamlet  earlier,  cheered  the  Mission- 
ary's heart  by  declaring  he  could  not  have 
believed  it  possible  that  so  great  a  change  for 
the  better  could  have  taken  place  in  so  short  a 
time.  Those  wild  pupils  became  very  dear  to 
the  servant  of  God.  They  tried  very  hard  to 
learn  their  lessons  well.  Occasionally  some  of 
the  parents  would  come  in,  and  pore  intently 
over  the  spelling  book.  All  did  their  best. 
Every  now  and  then  the  lessons  ceased,  and  a 
simple  Hymn  was  sung,  in  which  all  joined, 
feeling  that  it  was  a  grand  thing  to  sing  the 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.       1 5 

Lord's  Praise.  The  verse  most  frequently 
heard  was  the  Doxology  of  the  saintly  Bishop 
Ken: 

"  Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow, 
Praise  Him  all  creatures  here  below  ; 
Praise  Him  above,  y'  angelic  host, 
Praise  Father,  Son.  and  Holy  Ghost." 

And  where,  among  the  English-speaking 
race,  have  not  those  holy  words  been  devoutly 
sung?  Is  there  one  hour  in  the  day  when 
they  do  not  flow  from  Christian  lips,  in  one 
quarter  of  the  world  or  another? 

The  results  of  these  early  labours  in  Ashe, 
now  Watauga  County,  were  reported  by  the 
missionary  in  1843,  as  follows: 

"  Baptisms,  9 ;  Confirmed,  1  ;  Marriages,  3  ;  Burials,  4. 

l<  During  the  past  year  about  fifty  children  have  been  in- 
structed in  the  Catechism.  Twenty-five  prayer-books  have 
been  distributed.  A  Catechetical  Library  of  100  volumes, 
furnished  by  the  Bishop,  has  been  in  general  circulation. 

"H.  H.  Prout." 

Among  the  Baptisms  recorded  in  this  report 
one  had  taken  place  in  a  log  cabin,  the  only 
dwelling  in  a  secluded  valley  remarkable  for 
its  wild   beauty.     The  Missionary  held  a   ser- 


l6      MEMOIR    OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

vice  in  the  cabin,  where  a  small  congregation 
had  collected.  The  valley,  entirely  shut  in  by 
forest-clad  mountains,  was  watered  by  three 
small,  limpid  streams,  two  of  them  leaping 
down  the  hillsides  in  foaming  cascades;  the 
principal  stream,  formed  by  the  junction,  after 
a  short  course  of  about  two  miles,  passing 
through  a  narrow  gorge,  threw  itself  into  the 
Watauga.  The  waters  rushing  over  the  rocky 
bed  of  the  stream,  and  the  many  lesser  brooks 
leaping  down  the  mountain  side,  filled  the  air 
with  an  unceasing  murmur,  now  loud  and  full, 
then  more  gentle  and  subdued.  It  was  this 
secluded  valley  which,  from  the  cross-like  form 
of  the  three  streams  at  their  junction,  was 
now  to  receive  the  name  of  Valle  Crucis.  It 
will  be  remembered  that  there  was  formerly  a 
valley  and  a  religious  house  in  England  of  the 
same  name. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1843,  Bishop  Ives 
visited  this  valley  and  confirmed  one  person. 
He  became  so  much  charmed  with  the  country 
and  so  much  interested  in  the  people  that  he 
proposed  making  this  ground  the  site  of  im- 
portant Mission  Work  for  the  Diocese.     En- 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      \J 

couraged  by  the  sympathy  of  several  promi- 
nent clergymen  and  laymen,  he  took  the  first 
steps  towards  organizing  the  Mission  by  pur- 
chasing a  tract  of  land.  The  little  valley 
itself  contained  125  acres  of  level  land,  one- 
third  of  which  was  under  cultivation.  This 
was  purchased  for  $1,500.  Later  additions 
adapted  to  grazing,  or  valuable  for  timber, 
amounted  in  all  to  2,000  acres.  The  prices 
of  the  later  purchases  have  not  been  ascer- 
tained. The  Bishop  proposed  making  this 
valley  an  important  centre  of  work  for  the 
entire  Diocese,  to  include  a  Missionary  Sta- 
tion, a  Training  School  for  the  Ministry,  and 
a  Classical  and  Agricultural  School  for  boys. 
The  latter  school  was  designed  to  aid  the 
foundation. 

When  first  visited  by  the  Bishop  it  was 
thoroughly  solitary  ground.  As  an  Indian 
would  have  said,  there  was  but  "  one  smoke  " 
in  the  valley.  The  log  cabin  of  the  mountain 
miller  was  the  only  human  dwelling,  a  very- 
rude  little  grist-mill  and  a  small  tannery  the 
only  other  buildings.  But  a  change  was  now 
at    hand.     In    August,    1844,    contracts   were 


1 8      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

made  for  clearing  the  land  and  putting  up 
the  necessary  buildings,  which  included  a  saw- 
mill, a  log  kitchen,  a  dining-room  of  adobe,  a 
dwelling-house  of  four  rooms  of  hewn  logs,  and 
a  frame  building  with  boarded  walls,  60x18, 
containing  a  school-room  on  the  ground 
floor,  beneath  which  a  basement,  walled  and 
floored  with  brick,  was  afterwards  excavated 
the  whole  length  of  the  building,  through  a 
cut  on  the  hillside,  that  was  used  for  the 
chapel.  The  storey  above  the  school-room 
served  as  a  dormitory,  with  rooms  for  the 
teachers  at  each  end.  To  these  buildings 
others  were  soon  added:  a  house  of  adobe 
26  x  18,  two  storeys  high,  with  a  cellar  below, 
a  large  frame  barn,  with  brick  basement  for 
stables,  a  blacksmith's  shop,  and  several  log 
cabins  for  labourers.  These  were  all  scattered 
about  in  pleasing  positions  and  near  each 
other.  A  Bishop's  house  and  a  Chapel  were 
also  planned.  Early  in  1845  ^he  school  opened 
with  thirty  boys,  the  number  increasing  to 
fifty  cUiring  the  summer.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Thurston  was,  under  the  Bishop,  head  of  the 
Mission  and  director  of  the  school,  in  which 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.      19 

he  was  assisted  by  several  well-educated 
young  men,  Candidates  for  the  Ministry,  of 
whom  there  were  seven.  The  household 
affairs  were  managed  by  Mrs.  Thurston  and 
two  other  experienced  ladies. 

The  Mission  was  expected  to  cover  a  circuit 
of  thirty-five  miles  in  the  adjoining  mountain 
region. 

The  first  year  of  the  school  was  far  from  sat- 
isfactory, owing  to  several  causes.  The  build- 
ings were  not  finished  in  time,  and  at  the 
approach  of  cold  weather  the  boys  were  not 
comfortably  lodged.  But  a  greater  obstacle 
arose  from  the  fact  that  a  number  of  lads  had 
been  sent  to  Valle  Crucis  by  their  friends,  as 
to  a  Reformatory.  There  were  some  excellent 
boys  in  the  school.  But  the  misconduct  of 
others,  who  knew  absolutely  nothing  of  disci- 
pline and  subordination,  proved  the  source  of 
very  serious  trouble.  It  became  necessary  to 
resort  to  expulsion,  in  some  cases.  The  mis- 
conduct of  those  unruly  ones  had  even  a  bad 
effect  on  the  neighbouring  Missions  ;  the  oppo- 
nents of  the  Church  were  not  slow  to  tell  the 
Missionaries  that  this  misconduct  was  the  nat- 


20      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST    SKILES. 

ural  result  of  Church  teaching  !  A  number  of 
the  boys  were  recalled  by  their  friends.  The 
ladies  lost  courage,  and  withdrew  one  after  an- 
other. And,  at  length,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thurston 
died,  after  a  short  illness,  of  an  inflammatory 
fever  brought  from  the  low  country. 

But  improvement  was  at  hand.  The  school 
opened  anew  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Jarvis 
Buxton,  a  Candidate  for  Holy  Orders,  with 
good  results.  The  young  theological  stu- 
dents pursued  their  studies  with  courage  and 
devotion.  The  Missionary  work  was  carried 
on  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prout,  with  diligent 
fidelity. 


II. 


At  this  period  an  experienced  farmer,  to 
take  charge  of  the  agricultural  department, 
was  required.  To  fill  this  position,  a  middle- 
aged  man  came  to  Valle  Crucis  from  the  low 
country  of  North  Carolina. 

William  West  Skiles  was  born  October  12, 
1807,  at  Hertford,  Perquimons  County,  N.  C. 
He  attended  as  a  child  the  common  school  of 
that  neighbourhood,  and  it  is  said  that  his  boy- 
hood was  highly  honourable,  earning  at  that 
early  day  an  excellent  reputation  for  honesty, 
industry,  and  a  strong  sense  of  duty.  As  a 
young  man  he  was  much  esteemed  and  liked 
for  kindly  and  attractive  qualities.  He  looked 
forward  to  work  as  a  mechanic,  and  for  some 
years  filled  most  worthily  the  position  of  over- 
seer of  extensive  lumber-mills  near  Plymouth. 
Thence,  in  1844,  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven, 
he  came  to  Valle  Crucis,  where  his  personal 
character  soon   made  a  strong  impression  on 


22      MEMOIR  OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

all  who  knew  him.  Simple,  earnest,  and  pecu- 
liarly kindly  in  countenance  and  manner,  there 
was  something  winning  about  him  which 
attracted  a  warm  regard  from  his  companions, 
while  his  uprightness,  sound  practical  judg- 
ment, his  skill  and  experience,  soon  placed 
him  at  the  head  of  the  working  department. 
Gradually,  as  his  efficiency  and  fidelity  became 
more  and  more  apparent,  one  duty  after  an- 
other was  allotted  to  him,  until  the  labours  of 
head  farmer,  store-keeper,  postmaster,  treas- 
urer, and  general  superintendent  devolved 
upon  him.  The  religious  tone  of  the  institu- 
tion, devout  and  earnest,  produced  a  deep 
impression  on  this  practical  business  man. 
He  had  been  in  the  family  but  a  short  time 
when  he  expressed  to  the  clergyman  in  charge 
his  desire  to  serve  his  Lord  and  Master  more 
fully  than  he  had  yet  done,  by  devoting  his 
life  to  the  sacred  ministry.  There  was  no  dif- 
ficulty in  procuring  the  necessary  testimonials 
in  behalf  of  a  man  of  his  most  worthy  moral 
character,  and  he  began  almost  immediately 
the  necessary  studies.  The  name  of  William 
W.  Skiles  appears  as  a  Candidate  for  Deacon's 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.      23 

Orders  in  the  Report  of  the  Standing  Commit- 
tee of  the  Diocese  for  1845.  He  was  at  that 
time  about  thirty-eight  years  old,  according  to 
a  record  found  in  an  old  book.  He  was  thus 
one  of  the  first  to  profit  by  the  Canon  of  the 
General  Convention,  allowing  the  admission 
of  Deacons  without  classical  education.  A 
plain  English  education  was  all  he  had  re- 
ceived, and  he  made  no  attempt  to  acquire  the 
ancient  languages. 

During  the  first  two  years  of  his  life  at  Valle 
Crucis  the  time  of  William  Skiles  was  divided 
between  the  daily  work  connected  with  his 
position  as  General  Superintendent  and  his 
preparation  for  the  sacred  ministry.  With 
teaching  and  Mission  work  he  had,  during 
those  years,  nothing  to  do.  But  every  other 
department  of  the  work  at  Valle  Crucis  was 
more  or  less  closely  under  his  supervision. 
Remarkable  for  discretion,  practical,  patient, 
and  methodical,  he  would  seem  to  have  found 
time  to  attend  to  many  varied  duties  at  the 
right  moment  and  in  the  right  way.  His  per- 
sonal character  inspired  entire  confidence  in 
his   fidelity   and   uprightness,  while    the   gen 


24      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

ial  kindliness  of  his  nature  soon  added  af- 
fectionate regard  to  the  respect  with  which  all 
looked  up  to  him.  By  many  years  older  than 
the  young  men  connected  with  the  Mission, 
he  was  constantly  consulted  by  them  on  prac- 
tical points,  and  his  advice  never  failed  to 
have  great  weight  with  his  young  associates. 
"  We  considered  him  as  our  Nestor,"  says  one, 
now  a  prominent  clergyman  of  the  Church. 
His  slightly  stooping  figure  and  partially  bald 
head  gave  him  the  appearance  of  greater  age 
than  he  could  actually  claim.  He  was  gener- 
ally believed  to  be  nearly  fifty  when  he  came 
to  Valle  Crucis,  but  the  date  of  his  birth  has 
been  recently  found  in  an  old  memorandum 
book,  by  Mr.  George  Evans,  and  that  date  is 
October  12,  1807. 

He  lived  at  that  time  in  the  upper  room  of 
the  office,  or  library.  In  the  long  summer 
mornings,  after  his  own  private  devotions,  he 
was  often  afield  before  the  sun  rose,  attend- 
ing to  some  especial  duty.  Perchance  he  gave 
an  eye  to  the  hayfield  or  the  crops,  or  he 
looked  after  the  lumber  at  the  saw-mill,  or 
after  the  cattle,  in  which   he  felt  an  especial 


MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      2$ 

interest.  Bishop  Ives  had  purchased  in  Penn- 
sylvania valuable  stock,  which  he  sent  to  Valle 
Crucis  at  a  great  expense.  This  was,  of  course, 
under  the  care  of  Mr.  Skiles.  That  portion 
of  the  valley  selected  for  the  Mission  farm  was 
level  and  easily  cultivated,  although  the  soil 
was  not  rich.  The  crops  were  wheat,  and  all 
the  smaller  grains,  including  buckwheat,  with 
clover  and  grasses.  Maize  was  an  uncertain 
crop,  although  the  small  rare-ripe  kind  was 
usually  planted.  It  was  a  very  fine  grazing 
country,  and  the  herds  of  the  Mission  family 
fared  well,  not  only  in  the  meadows  of  the 
valley,  but  also  in  the  natural  pastures  to  be 
found  in  many  places  on  the  mountains,  even 
to  their  very  summits.  None  but  hardy  vege- 
tables were  cultivated  in  the  gardens,  as  the 
summers  were  too  short  for  the  more  tender 
kinds.  But  the  hardy  sorts  were  of  remarka- 
bly good  quality ;  the  cabbages  were  very  fine, 
so  large  and  sound,  and  so  choice  in  flavour  ;  in 
fact,  they  were  quite  remarkable,  and  the  Mis- 
sion family  would  seem  to  have  indulged  in  a 
certain  pride  in  those  magnificent  vegetables, 
which   might  have  sat  for  their  portraits  to 


26      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

some  Dutch  artist.  Peaches  were  raised  in 
the  valley,  and  the  common  cherry  was  abun- 
dant in  the  neighbourhood.  The  apples  were 
remarkably  fine,  as  they  are  said  to  be  in  all 
that  mountain  region.  It  was  with  something 
more  than  the  feeling  of  a  common  farmer 
that  William  Skiles  walked  about  the  fields  en- 
trusted to  his  care  ;  not  only  was  he  naturally 
desirous  that  the  harvest  of  grain,  fruit,  and 
vegetables^  should  turn  out  well,  but  the 
actual  well-being  of  the  Mission  family,  their 
daily  bread,  in  fact,  depended  very  much  upon 
the  yield  of  the  farm. 

As  the  sun  appeared  above  the  eastern  hills 
a  bugle  was  heard  calling  the  family  to  early 
prayers.  All  turned  their  steps  towards  the 
brick  basement  Chapel,  plain  and  unadorned, 
where  the  services  were  devoutly  performed. 
It  was  usually,  at  that  date,  one  of  the  Divinity 
students  who  officiated  in  the  Chapel.  Since 
the  death  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thurston  there  had 
been  no  rector  at  Valle  Crucis.  And  there, 
among  others,  was  William  Skiles,  sure  to  be 
in  his  place,  on  his  knees,  in  the  House  of 
Prayer,  whatever  may  have  been  the  urgent 


MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      27 

work  on  the  farm.  Among  many  youthful 
heads,  more  attractive,  perchance,  in  form  and 
feature,  the  half-bald  head  and  plain  face  of 
the  middle-aged  yeoman  commanded  respect 
and  sympathy  from  their  expression  of  sim- 
ple, earnest  devotion  and  natural  goodness,  if 
we  may  use  the  words.  In  his  countenance 
there  was  always  the  strength  of  good  sense, 
blended  with  a  glow  of  kindly  feeling.  The 
service  over,  prayer  and  praise  devoutly  offered, 
the  family  band  of  worshippers  went  down 
the  slope  of  the  hill  to  the  long  shed  room  in 
the  rear  of  the  log  house,  called  the  Bishop's 
House,  where  they  breakfasted.  The  meals 
were  always  simple,  chiefly  from  the  produce 
of  the  farm,  excepting  when  trout  and  Venison 
were  brought  in. 

After  breakfast  the  time  of  the  Steward  was 
again  given  to  the  varied  details  of  his  busi- 
ness. Perchance  a  rustic  customer  appeared 
at  the  little  store  "  to  trade."  Or  a  load  of 
goods,  brought  with  great  toil  over  the  moun- 
tain roads  from  Morganton  or  Lenoir,  must 
needs  be  looked  over.  These  goods,  brought 
from  the  east  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  appeared 


28      MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

but  seldom,  however,  and  the  amount  was 
small ;  tea,  coffee,  sugar,  mustard,  pepper,  salt, 
farm  tools,  nails,  screws,  etc.;  a  few  packages 
of  the  more  common  medicines  for  the  dis- 
pensary, boots  and  shoes,  school-books,  paper, 
pens,  ink,  with  a  very  modest  supply  of  gen- 
eral stationery ;  needles,  pins,  thread,  tape, 
buttons,  with  perchance  a  few  pieces  of  calico, 
flannels,  and  shirting,  such  were  the  usual  con- 
tents of  the  invoice  directed  to  William  Skiles. 
Every  primitive  country  "  store  "  contains  an 
odd  medley,  but  the  shelves  at  Valle  Crucis, 
with  their  post-office  pigeon-holes,  their  medi- 
cal and  literary  corners,  could  show  even  a 
wider  range  than  usual.  But  limited  indeed 
was  the  space  allotted  to  each  department ;  the 
entire  building  was  a  mere  box. 

Occasionally  there  were  sales  of  cattle  or 
sheep  to  be  made,  or  it  might  be  produce  or 
lumber.  Here  again  was  work  for  the  stew- 
ard. The  perfect  honesty,  the  open  upright- 
ness of  his  dealings  with  the  country  people 
on  these  occasions  was  frequently  remarked, 
and  soon  obtained  for  him  their  unqualified 
confidence,  their  sincere  respect. 


MEMOIR    OF   WILLIAM    WEST    SKILES.      29 

All  the  funds  of  the  institution  passed 
through  his  trustworthy  hands,  as  he  was  the 
General  Treasurer  also.  Of  course,  close  at- 
tention to  the  accounts  occupied  a  portion  of 
his  time.  But  this  duty  was  usually  attended 
to  in  the  afternoon  or  evening.  Dinner  took 
place  at  noon.  In  the  afternoon,  at  five,  there 
were  evening  prayers,  from  which  the  good 
yeoman  student  was  never  absent,  unless  from 
necessity. 

In  spite  of  his  numerous  secular  occupa- 
tions, the  most  important  part  of  his  duties, 
the  preparation  for  the  sacred  ministry,  was 
never  neglected.  It  was  in  the  library,  or 
office,  where  he  slept,  that  his  studies  were 
chiefly  carried  on  during  the  evening  hours, 
blended,  we  may  be  sure,  with  much  earnest 
prayer.  There  was  a  regular  course  of  lec- 
tures, also,  for  the  divinity  students,  which  he 
attended  faithfully.  He  was  appointed  a  war- 
den of  the  parish  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Cross  soon  after  Mr.  Thurston's  death.  The 
Report  for  1846  was  prepared  by  him  : 

"Communicants  ten,  four  having  been  added  during  the 
year,  while  five  have  removed.      Daily  Morning  Prayer  has 


30      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

been  read  in  the  Chapel,  and  constant  instruction  in  the 
Bible  and  Catechism  given  to  the  youth  connected  with  the 
establishment.  The  sudden  death  of  the  rector  of  the  parish, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Thurston,  whose  place  has  not  been  supplied, 
has  proved  a  drawback  to  its  prosperity.  We  need  a  minister 
who  can  devote  his  whole  time  to  our  spiritual  needs." 

But  although  there  was  no  regular  rector, 
the  religious  services  were  carried  on  with  fidel- 
ity. There  was  a  short  Chapel  service  at  sun- 
rise, another  at  noon,  and  also  the  regular 
Morning  and  Evening  Prayers  daily.  These 
services  were  well  attended.  The  Chaplain, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Prout,  officiated  three  Sundays 
in  the  month  in  the  basement  Chapel.  He 
also  administered  the  Holy  Communion  every 
month.  The  services  at  all  the  Church  Festi- 
vals and  Fasts  were  also  performed  by  Mr. 
Prout.  His  Mission  work  beyond  Valle 
Crucis  was  at  the  same  time  carried  on  with 
encouraging  results.  There  were  many  preju- 
dices to  overcome,  and,  as  usual,  in  some  in- 
stances those  prejudices  were  intensely  bitter. 
The  opposition  to  primitive  Church  govern- 
ment, with  its  ancient  orders  of  the  Ministry, 
Bishops,  Priests,  and  Deacons,  was  found  to 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      3 1 

be  very  strong.  And,  as  usual  at  that  day, 
the  use  of  a  Liturgy  was  considered  by  many 
as  entirely  inconsistent  with  sincere  devotion. 
Ignorance  was,  of  course,  the  foundation  of 
those  prejudices.  In  fact,  it  may  be  said  that 
all  religious  prejudice,  with  its  legion  of  evil 
consequences,  can  be  traced  to  a  combination 
of  individual  pride  and  ignorance.  Pride  fos- 
ters the  ignorance.  It  is  quite  remarkable 
what  a  change  has  come  over  the  Christian 
community  in  America  as  regards  many  of  the 
peculiar  practices  of  our  Church  during  the 
last  half-century  ;  much  is  borrowed  to-day 
from  the  same  Liturgy  which  very  worthy 
people  of  the  past  generation  considered 
merely  an  utterly  lifeless  form.  And  the  min- 
isters of  different  religious  societies  at  the 
present  hour  are  claiming  the  title  of  Bishop, 
which  their  fathers  considered  a  most  arrogant 
usurpation. 

"  May  all  who  profess  and  call  themselves  Christians  be  led 
into  the  way  of  truth,  and  hold  the  faith  in  unity  of  spirit,  in 
the  bond  of  peace,  and  in  righteousness  of  life  !  " 

The  backwoodsmen  on  the  Watauga  were 
not,  however,  too  stubborn  to  be  won  by  the 


32       MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST    SKILES. 

kindly  Christian  charity  which  marked  the 
course  of  the  Missionary.  Little  by  little, 
many  were  softened.  Many  who  could  not 
read  listened  Sunday  after  Sunday  to  the  two 
great  lessons  from  the  Holy  Scriptures  con- 
nected with  the  course  of  the  Christian  year, 
and  gradually  learned  the  happiness  of  cele- 
brating in  regular  succession  the  great  events 
of  the  life  of  our  Holy  and  Blessed  Lord. 
They  learned  to  keep  Christmas  and  Easter 
with  joyful  hearts.  They  learned  to  utter  de- 
voutly the  responses  of  the  Litany,  and  those 
after  the  Commandments.  Gradually,  by  the 
blessing  of  God,  a  very  devout  spirit  began  to 
prevail  among  this  simple  people.  It  was  at 
this  period  that  a  Baptism  of  a  young  man, 
one  of  the  students,  by  immersion,  took  place 
at  Valle  Crucis,  the  point  chosen  for  adminis- 
tering the  sacrament  being  the  junction  of  the 
three  streams  forming  the  cross. 

The  three  principal  missionary  stations,  be- 
yond Valle  Crucis,  were  at  that  time  Upper 
Watauga,  Lower  Watauga,  and  New  River.  A 
day-school  blending  religious  and  common  in- 
struction was  kept  by  one  of  the  candidates  for 


MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      33 

the  ministry,  at  Lower  Watauga.  Religious 
services  were  also  held  regularly  in  another 
school-house  above  Valle  Crucis,  where  a  divin- 
ity student  taught  a  Sunday-school.  There 
were  several  of  these  small  outlying  stations 
and  day-schools.  There  were  at  this  time  eight 
students  of  Divinity  at  the  Valley,  all  giving 
more  or  less  attention  to  some  form  of  Mission 
work.  Among  these  Candidates  for  the  Min- 
istry was  Mr.  William  R.  Gries,  from  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  he  had  been  a  medical  student,  and  his 
services  in  visiting  the  sick  and  prescribing  for 
patients  of  different  kinds  were  in  constant  de- 
mand, and  his  assistance  to  the  suffering  was 
very  happy  in  its  effects,  by  softening  the  prej- 
udices of  the  ignorant  mountaineers. 
3 


III. 

The  necessary  studies  having  been  completed 
Mr.  Skiles  declared  himself  ready  for  examina- 
tion ;  and  all  the  requirements  of  the  Church 
having  been  fulfilled,  the  time  for  the  ordina- 
tion was  appointed.  On  the  Ninth  Sunday 
after  Trinity,  August  i,  1847,  tne  solemn  ser- 
vice took  place  in  the  Chapel  at  Valle  Crucis 
— the  brick  basement  Chapel  on  the  hill-side.* 

Mr.  Jarvis  Buxton  and  Mr.  William  West 
Skiles  (the  latter  under  the  Canon  of  1 844)  were 
then  ordained  Deacons,  by  Bishop  Ives.  The 
Collect  for  that  Sunday  was  especially  appro- 
priate : 

"  Grant  to  us,  Lord,  we  beseech  Thee,  the  spirit  to  think 
and  do  always  such  things  as  are  right ;  that  we  who  cannot 
do  anything  that  is  good  without  Thee,  may  by  Thee  be  en- 
abled to  live  according  to  Thy  will,  through  Jesus  Christ,  our 
Lord.     Amen." 

*The  school-house,  with  its  brick  basement  Chapel,  was  ac- 
cidentally burnt  down  a  year  or  two  afterward,  leaving  behind, 
as  its  only  memorial,  the  bare  transverse  cut  in  the  hill-side. 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      35 

And  the  Collect  at  the  close  of  the  ordination 
service  was  also  touchingly  fulfilled  by  the  after 
life  of  William  Skiles  : 

"Almighty  God,  giver  of  all  good  things,  who  of  Thy  great 
goodness  has  vouchsafed  to  accept  and  take  this  Thy  servant 
unto  the  Office  of  a  Deacon  in  Thy  Church,  make  him,  we 
beseech  Thee,  O  Lord,  to  be  modest,  humble,  and  constant  in 
his  ministrations — continuing  ever  stable  and  strong  in  Thy 
Son  Christ." 

A  holy  modesty,  humility,  and  a  singular 
constancy  under  severe  trials,  characterized  the 
entire  ministry  of  this  servant  of  God. 

From  the  day  of  his  ordination  William 
Skiles  entered  quietly  and  simply  upon  his 
religious  duties  as  a  Deacon,  without  giving  up, 
however,  the  stewardship  of  the  temporal  af- 
fairs of  Valle  Crucis.  He  occasionally  read  the 
Lessons  or  the  Daily  Prayers  in  the  Chapel, 
and  he  also  now  began  Mission  work  at  some 
of  the  outlying  stations,  reading  prayers,  cate- 
chizing, and  occasionally  preaching.  It  was 
about  this  time  also  that  he  gave  especial 
attention  to  medical  reading,  with  the  view  of 
following  the  example  of  Mr.  Gries,  by  being 
useful    to    the    scattered    households    in    the 


36      MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

mountains  in  charitable  services  of  this  kind. 
Mr.  Skiles  sought  some  medical  instruction 
from  his  brother  student,  and  borrowed  his 
books.  Some  instruction  of  this  kind  was  abso- 
lutely required,  as  the  kind-hearted  steward  at 
Valle  Crucis  had  already  frequently  been  called 
upon  by  the  country  people  for  medicines  and 
advice  and  assistance  in  nursing.  A  supply  of 
medicines  was  kept  at  the  office  for  the  use  of 
the  family,  and  the  mountaineers  frequently 
came  to  ask  for  the  proper  remedies  in  differ- 
ent diseases.  Mr.  Gries  was  ordained  Deacon 
at  Hillsborough  in  the  course  of  the  autumn, 
and  left  the  valley  for  another  field  of  labour. 
After  he  had  gone  Mr.  Skiles  was  called  upon 
as  his  medical  substitute,  and  soon  had  a  great 
deal  to  do  in  this  way.  He  sent  for  books  re- 
lating to  the  common  diseases  of  that  region 
and  studied  them  carefully.  Toward  the 
autumn  of  1847  tne  Rev.  Mr.  Buxton,  the 
newly  ordained  Deacon,  left  Valle  Crucis. 

Happily  Mr.  Prout  still  remained  as  Chap- 
lain. A  new  house  was  built  for  him.  The 
different  buildings  were  scattered  about  the 
grounds  among  trees  and  groves,  within  con- 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.      37 

venient  distances  of  each  other,  but  Bishop 
Ives  was  not  considered  happy  in  his  architect- 
ural plans  ;  in  several  of  these  buildings  the 
foundations  were  of  burnt  bricks,  and  the  su- 
perstructure of  adobes,  which  it  was  intended 
eventually  to  cover  with  stucco.  The  adobes 
used  in  these  buildings  were  made  in  the  valley, 
of  clay  and  straw,  as  usual,  and  were  considered 
to  be  of  good  quality.  But  they  soon  began  to 
crumble  away,  and  in  the  course  of  the  summer 
they  were  attacked  by  an  unforeseen  enemy ; 
the  humble-bees  took  possession  of  them,  bor- 
ing into  the  fresh  clay  to  such  an  extent  that 
the  walls  in  many  places  looked  like  honey- 
combs, and  were  so  much  weakened  that  they 
gave  way  in  places  under  the  weight  above 
them.  The  young  students  declared  their  be- 
lief that  there  could  have  been  no  humble-bees 
in  Egypt  in  the  time  of  the  Pharaohs,  or  that 
they  were  not  so  fond  of  working  in  Egyptian 
clay  as  in  that  of  North  Carolina.  The  decay 
of  these  buildings  was  very  rapid.  And  yet 
they  were  built  at  very  great  expense.  It  was 
observed  that  Bishop  Ives  took  especial  pleas- 
ure  in   making  contracts,    and   also   that   he 


38      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

generally  had  the  worst  of  a  bargain.  The  cost 
in  most  cases  far  exceeded  the  estimates.  And 
in  his  purchase  of  choice  stock,  which  he  had 
brought  from  Pennsylvania  at  great  expense, 
he  was  also  unsuccessful,  so  far  as  the  results 
appeared.  The  raising  of  fine  stock  was  in- 
tended to  become  a  means  of  support  to  the 
Mission.     But  nothing  came  of  the  plan. 

These  cattle  were  of  course  under  the  care  of 
Mr.  Skiles,  as  steward,  and  very  faithfully  did 
he  look  after  them.  He  was  always,  indeed,  a 
faithful  shepherd  in  the  highest  sense  of  the 
word,  very  tender-hearted  with  all  living  creat- 
ures entrusted  to  his  care,  watchful  to  supply 
their  wants,  and  kindly  in  his  treatment  of 
them.  His  thoughtful  care  and  kindliness  for 
the  horses,  cattle,  and  sheep  was  often  remarked 
at  the  Mission.  It  was,  no  doubt,  at  first  the 
result  of  his  kindly  nature,  but  it  would  seem 
to  have  gradually  assumed  the  character  of  re- 
ligious principle  as  his  standard  became  higher. 
He  considered  it  a  Christian  duty,  never  to  be 
neglected  with  impunity.  It  is  ever  the  happy 
result  of  true  Christian  faith  to  develop  all  that 
is  good  in  the  natural  character. 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      39 

The  Mission  work  was  gradually  increasing 
by  services  held  at  outlying  stations,  and  by 
Sunday-schools  and  day-schools  under  the 
teaching  of  the  young  students  of  divinity. 
The  theological  students  were  allowed  two 
hours  for  study,  unless  there  was  a  pressure  of 
farm  work.  They  were  required  to  teach  in 
the  boys'  school  and  also  to  work  on  the  farm 
for  two  hours  daily.  The  number  of  services 
in  the  Chapel  varied  at  different  periods ;  they 
were  never  less  than  three,  and  at  times  four; 
at  sunrise,  at  noon,  and  the  regular  Morning 
and  Evening  Prayers.  The  older  students 
were  allowed  to  build  themselves  little  cabins 
in  the  nearer  groves,  where  they  studied  and 
slept  —  a  pleasant  arrangement  which  they 
much  enjoyed. 


IV. 

The  singular  beauty  of  the  scenery  in  that 
secluded  mountain  basin  gave  great  delight  to 
the  young  divinity  students,  and  to  the  lads  of 
the  school  also.  The  waterfall  in  the  narrow 
gorge  at  the  head  of  the  valley  toward  Hang- 
ing Rock  was  a  favourite  stroll ;  the  flow  of 
water  was  always  sufficient  to  form  a  beautiful 
cascade,  but  after  heavy  rains  in  the  spring  and 
autumn,  the  foaming  sheet  became  grand  in 
character.  It  fell  eighty  feet,  in  three  separate 
leaps.  The  banks  on  either  side  were  very 
rugged  and  thickly  set  with  laurel,  like  the 
banks  of  many  streams  in  that  region.  At  the 
foot  of  the  fall  the  waters  gathered  in  a  little 
pool  before  winding  farther  down  the  valley. 
In  this  pool  dead  and  mangled  deer  were  occa- 
sionally found.  When  pursued  by  the  hunters 
on  the  heights  above,  these  timid  creatures 
would,  in  their  terror,  leap  headlong  over  the 
precipice   into   the   basin   below.     It  was  re- 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      41 

marked  that  while  many  deer  had  thus  per- 
ished, not  a  single  hound,  of  those  engaged  in 
the  chase,  was  ever  known  to  take  that  fatal 
leap.  Deer  were  common  on  the  mountains, 
and  occasionally  one  would  be  seen  from  the 
school-room  windows,  in  full  flight,  pursued 
across  the  valley  by  the  hunters.  The  eager 
boys  were  generally  dismissed  on  such  occa- 
sions and  allowed  to  follow  the  chase  awhile. 
Fishing  was  a  common  recreation  of  the 
young  men,  angling  in  the  pure  mountain 
brooks,  which  were  full  of  fine  trout.  And 
the  larger  lads  were  occasionally  allowed  to 
take  their  guns  into  the  woods  in  quest  of 
game ;  if  they  failed  to  return  with  the  spoils 
of  the  bear  or  wolf  or  panther,  all  to  be 
found  in  the  depths  of  the  forest  at  that  date, 
they  not  infrequently  shot  deer  or  wild  turkey 
or  grouse.  Indeed,  it  was  commonly  noticed 
that  the  pupils  of  Valle  Crucis  were  wont  to 
recount,  in  after  life,  with  the  greatest  zest 
and  fondness,  their  happy  days  spent  at  Valle 
Crucis. 

Excursions  for  recreation  were  occasionally 
made  to  the  more  distant  mountains  by  bands 


42       MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

of  teachers  and  pupils.  When  not  too  much 
occupied  by  his  duties  as  steward,  Mr.  Skiles 
made  one  of  the  party.  He  was  always  in 
kindly  sympathy  with  the  young,  genial  and 
patient  with  them. 

Two  of  these  holiday  excursions  are  espe- 
cially recorded,  one  to  the  Roan  Mountain,  of 
the  Alleghany  chain,  and  another  to  the  Grand- 
father, the  highest  point  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 
The  mountains  of  the  Blue  Ridge  are  marked 
more  or  less  clearly  with  distinctive  character- 
istics of  their  own.  While  a  few  show  bold, 
rocky  summits,  or  grand  masses  of  rock  and 
abrupt  precipices  on  their  flanks,  others  are 
clothed  with  a  rich  vegetation  to  their  highest 
point ;  yonder,  a  dense  mass  of  varied  forest, 
nearer,  often  broad  reaches  of  beautiful,  natural 
meadows.  The  heights,  which  are  bare,  are 
called  "  Old  Balds  "  by  the  country  people. 

The  excursion  to  the  Roan  was  a  distant 
one,  that  mountain  touching  the  borders  of 
Tennessee ;  the  ascent  of  three  miles  was 
abrupt.  There  was  the  usual  rich  and  varied 
forest,  lighted  up  by  the  luxuriant  bloom  of 
tangled   shrubbery.      The  beautiful  carpet  of 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      43 

mosses  on  the  lower  reaches  of  the  mountain 
was  frequently  nearly  a  foot  in  depth.  Gen- 
tian and  ginseng  were  observed.  Occasionally 
the  party  came  to  what  the  country  people 
called  a  "  deadening,"  a  spot  where  fire  had 
blighted  the  wood,  leaving  gray  spectres  of 
trees  in  the  midst  of  the  living  forest.  Here 
and  there  a  fine  ''orchard"  of  sugar-maples 
was  passed,  as  luxuriant  as  any  in  the  north- 
ern Alleghanies  ;  one  such  "orchard"  was 
said  to  cover  fifty  acres  of  ground.  The 
mountaineers  made  their  own  sugar.  Here 
and  there,  but  at  long  intervals,  a  rude  log 
cabin  might  be  seen,  standing  awkwardly  by 
the  mountain  track,  its  small  windows  perhaps 
unglazed. 

While  resting  near  a  spring,  one  of  the 
young  men  went  to  a  cabin  near  at  hand  in 
quest  of  buttermilk;  a  bountiful  supply  was 
cheerfully  provided,  but  when  the  pail  was  re- 
turned, and  payment  offered,  the  money  was 
refused ;  the  good  woman  could  not  be  per- 
suaded to  accept  the  small  silver  coin  offered  : 
11  Keep  it,  man  ;  you  may  want  it  yourself  some 
day."     There  were  many  kind  hearts  among 


44      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

the  mountaineers,  though  often  under  a  rough 
and  undemonstrative  exterior.  Brother  Skiles 
was  known  in  most  of  these  log-cabins,  where 
he  had  nursed  the  sick,  prayed  with  the  peo- 
ple, and  catechized  the  children  in  his  simple, 
kindly  way.  On  one  rude  farm  a  man  was 
seen  ploughing,  guiding  a  steer,  and  carrying 
a  little  baby  girl  on  his  shoulder,  her  arms 
about  his  neck ;  this  ploughman  was  known  to 
Mr.  Skiles ;  the  father  was  devotedly  fond  of 
his  child;  he  was  seldom  seen  without  her, 
either  in  his  arms  or  on  his  shoulder,  sitting 
close  beside  him  whatever  his  work  might  be. 
At  home,  in  the  log  cabin,  where  she  had  a 
good  mother,  the  rude  'father  was  the  chief 
nurse  of  his  little  daughter,  petting  her,  feed- 
ing her,  rocking  her  to  sleep,  and  greatly  en- 
joying her  baby  company.  Some  months  later 
the  little  girl  sickened  and  died.  The  father 
was  heart-broken,  with  a  tenderness  of  grief 
which  would  scarcely  have  been  expected  in 
one  so  rude  in  aspect. 

As  the  travellers  moved  onward  over  higher 
ground  they  found  the  rhododendron  growing 
luxuriantly  four  thousand  feet  above  the  sea. 


MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM   WEST  SKILES.      45 

At  a  still  greater  height,  five  thousand  feet, 
the  grasses  and  weeds  of  the  low  country  were 
observed.  Occasional  glimpses  of  wild  creat- 
ures, feathered  or  furred,  added  interest  to 
the  tramp.  The  summit,  when  reached,  was 
peculiar  in  character,  a  broad,  grassy  prairie, 
several  miles  in  extent,  broken  by  scattered 
groves,  and  here  and  there  by  huge  isolated 
masses  of  rock,  or  patches  of  dark  balsam. 
Many  cattle  were  feeding  on  this  Alpine 
pasture,  raising  their  heads  in  astonishment, 
as  the  merry  young  group  passed  onward, 
laughing,  shouting,  and  leaping.  It  is  this 
broad,  open  summit,  which  at  certain  seasons 
assumes  a  faint  dun  colour,  that  has  given  to 
the  mountain  the  name  of  the  Roan.  It  gives 
to  the  height  a  softer  and  more  attractive 
character  than  the  wild,  shaggy  forests  on 
other  neighbouring  summits.  The  views  are 
very  beautiful,  the  most  extensive  in  that 
region  looking  far  away  westward,  over  the 
rich  Tennessee  valleys.  There  is  a  huge  mass 
of  rock  called  the  Bluff  near  the  highest 
point.  Here  the  party  stood  on  the  brink  of 
a  precipice,  looking  down   into  a  wild   forest 


46      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

gorge  below,  whence  a  strong  current  of  wind 
was  rising  with  great  force,  sweeping  over 
the  summit,  driving  flitting  clouds  before  it. 
Some  of  the  lads  threw  their  hats  down  the 
precipice,  but  they  were  met  by  the  wind 
and  whirled  back  again  over  the  heads  of  the 
boys  on  to  the  prairie  beyond,  whence  they 
were  only  recovered  by  a  hard  chase,  en- 
livened by  the  wild  gambols  of  the  amazed 
cattle,  thrown  into  confusion  by  these  unusual 
proceedings.  The  highest  point  of  the  Roan 
is  estimated  by  Guyot  to  be  6,306  feet  above 
the  sea. 

On  another  pleasant  summer  day  a  party  of 
twenty,  under  the  leadership  of  the  Mission- 
ary, the  Rev.  Mr.  Prout,  left  the  valley  for  the 
summit  of  the  Grandfather,  about  ten  miles 
distant.  The  grand  old  mountain,  with  its 
five  rugged  peaks,  is  the  highest  in  the  Blue 
Ridge,  being  5,897  feet.  The  Watauga  flows 
from  springs  on  its  western  face.  The  party 
from  Valle  Crucis  made  their  arrangements 
for  passing  the  night  on  the  summit  of  the 
mountain.  The  young  men  were  armed  with 
an  axe  or  two  for  cutting  firewood,  and  also 


MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      47 

for  clearing  a  path  through  the  dense  thickets. 
Two  or  three  shot-guns  were  also  provided,  for 
killing  any  game  that  might  cross  their  path, 
and  also  for  protection  against  wild  beasts 
prowling  about  at  night.  The  provisions 
were  coffee,  bacon,  and  pones  of  corn  bread. 
Two  coffee-pots  and  a  dozen  tin  cups  dangled 
from  the  shoulder  of  one  of  the  party.  Each 
was  provided  with  an  overcoat  or  blanket  for 
warmth  at  night.  The  young  men  enjoyed 
with  zest  the  spirited  delights  of  the  ascent, 
accompanied  almost  constantly  by  the  mur- 
mur of  limpid  brooks  and  cascades.  There 
was  no  road  at  that  date ;  a  mere  rude  trail  to 
the  base  of  the  mountain,  and  beyond  that 
point  the  Watauga  was  their  only  guide.  The 
woods  were  rich  and  varied  on  the  lower 
reaches  of  the  mountain,  including  maple, 
ash,  hickory,  walnut,  oak,  chestnut,  chincapin, 
and  sycamore.  The  linden  also  abounded  in 
some  places.  With  the  usual  reckless  waste- 
fulness of  American  forestry,  the  farmers  of 
that  region  cut  down  the  young  linden  trees 
in  the  spring  that  their  cattle  might  feed  on  the 
fresh  shoots,  which  the  animals  greatly  enjoy. 


48      MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

The  writer  of  this  sketch  has  seen  a  noble 
white  pine,  perhaps  four  hundred  years  old, 
felled  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Otsego  to  obtain 
a  few  pounds  of  honey  stored  in  one  of  its 
branches  ;  and  on  another  occasion  a  grand 
chestnut  was  found  cut  down  in  September 
for  the  nuts  just  ripening  !  Our  country,  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  from  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  to  the  most  northern  forest,  must  as- 
suredly suffer  some  day  from  this  worse  than 
barbarous  wastefulness  of  its  woods.  The 
people  in  the  Blue  Ridge  call  the  linden 
the  linn ;  and  the  stream  flowing  southward, 
neighbour  of  the  Watauga,  and  noted  for  its 
beautiful  falls,  is  called  the  Linnville,  from 
the  same  tree.  The  undergrowth  on  the 
lower  reaches  of  the  Grandfather  was  com- 
posed of  the  usual  close  thickets  of  laurel, 
blended  with  rhododendron,  entwined  with 
creeping  vines  and  carpetted  with  rich  mosses. 
Higher  on  the  mountain  side  there  were  dense 
evergreen  woods  of  dark  balsam.  At  length, 
after  a  hard  ascent,  the  summit  of  the  moun- 
tain was  reached.  Here,  from  beneath  a  huge 
rock,  in  the  heart  of  a  balsam  wood,  a  noble 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SK.ILES.      49 

spring  burst  forth,  ample  in  volume,  bright 
and  cheery,  as  if  enjoying  the  prospect  of  its 
leaping,  laughing  course  down  the  mountain 
side.  The  volume  of  water  in  these  Alpine 
springs  of  North  Carolina,  even  at  a  great 
elevation,  is  remarkable  when  it  is  remem- 
bered that  there  are  no  glaciers,  or  heights 
covered  with  perpetual  snow,  in  the  Blue 
Ridge.  These  springs  flow  from  the  heart  of 
the  mountains.  They  are  sparkling  and  cold. 
Mr.  Buxton,  having  a  thermometer,  found  the 
temperature  of  this  noble  spring,  the  actual 
source  of  the  Watauga,  to  be  forty-two 
degrees.  He  named  it  the  "  Bishop  Spring." 
The  springs  at  Valle  Crucis  had  been  found 
to  be  fifty-two  degrees. 

A  grand  fire  of  dead  balsam  wood  was  soon 
blazing.  A  frugal  supper  of  bacon,  cooked 
Indian  fashion  on  sticks  hung  over  the 
coals,  coffee  and  corn  pones,  was  eaten  with 
appetites  sharpened  by  the  keen  air.  Beds 
were  made  of  twigs  of  laurel  and  balsam,  on 
which  the  young  men  stretched  themselves, 
wrapped  in  blanket  or  overcoat,  with  feet 
toward  the  fire.  The  night  was  very  cold 
4 


50      MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

at  that  height,  even  at  midsummer,  and  the 
fire  was  frequently  replenished,  not  only  for 
warmth,  but  as  a  protection  against  any  bear 
or  panther  that  might  be  prowling  about. 

With  the  morning  light  all  hurried  to  the 
top  of  the  Spring  Rock,  which  commanded  a 
noble  view  eastward.  A  letter  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Buxton  speaks  with  the  greatest  admira- 
tion of  the  grand  sunrise  seen  from  the  top  of 
the  Grandfather  Rock : 

"  I  have  seen  the  glorious  sun-rise  at  sea;  but  nothing  of 
sky  at  sea  ever  filled  my  vision  with  such  deep  impressions  of 
glory  as  came  from  those  gorgeous  skies — brilliant  hues  ever 
shifting,  dissolving,  and  re-combining,  ever  growing  in  bright- 
ness as  the  morning  advanced,  till  the  vast  heavens  seemed 
filled  with  the  glory  and  flame  of  colour  ;  while  below,  stretch- 
ing far  away  into  the  azure,  the  hills  still  slept  their  lowly 
sleep  of  silence,  with  the  heavens  all  aglow  above  them." 

Later  began  the  descent  through  the  forest. 
It  was  the  intention  to  strike  the  Watauga  at 
a  lower  point,  and  follow  its  course  homeward. 
After  plunging  downward  some  distance,  the 
party  reached  a  stream  supposed  to  be  the 
Watauga.  But  they  were  mistaken ;  these 
were  the  head-waters  of  the  Linnville  River, 


MEMOIR    OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      5 1 

which  flows  in  an  entirely  different  direction. 
It  was  only  after  descending  some  distance 
that  the  mistake  was  discovered.  It  was  too 
late  to  return,  or  to  make  fresh  ventures  in  the 
trackless  forest.  After  a  consultation  it  was 
decided  that  the  safest  course  would  be  to  fol- 
low the  Linnville,  in  the  hope  of  reaching 
some  cabin  where  they  could  find  shelter  for 
the  night.  But  the  task  of  following  the 
stream  was  no  easy  one.  The  banks  were 
bordered  everywhere,  down  to  the  water's 
edge,  with  an  impenetrable  thicket  of  laurel, 
through  which,  as  one  of  the  party  remarked, 
"only  a  lank  wolf  or  lithe  panther  or  sleek 
rattlesnake  "  could  make  his  way.  They  were 
actually  forced  to  take  to  the  water,  in  the 
bed  of  the  stream,  and  wade  down  the  river, 
often  at  a  depth  of  three  or  four  feet,  at  times 
leaping  from  rock  to  rock,  occasionally  slip- 
ping on  the  smooth,  wet  stones,  and  falling 
headlong  into  the  water.  The  mountain 
trout,  of  which  the  stream  was  full,  were  much 
disturbed  by  this  extraordinary  invasion  of 
their  domain,  and  darted  about  in  great  agita- 
tion.    The   lads  enjoyed  with  great  glee  the 


52      MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

adventure,  including  its  mishaps,  and  made 
the  wilderness  ring  with  their  merry  shouts ; 
but  the  elder  members  of  the  party  felt  no  lit- 
tle anxiety,  and  scarcely  enjoyed  the  idea  of 
passing  the  night  in  the  bed  of  the  river,  like 
so  many  Tritons.  They  looked  wistfully 
about  in  the  hope  of  discovering  some  log 
cabin,  where  they  might  find  shelter,  before 
the  darkness  of  night  fell  upon  them — a  dark- 
ness always  peculiarly  dense  among  the  close 
laurel  undergrowth.  So  compact,  indeed,  was 
the  thicket  of  laurel  on  the  banks  that  it  was 
actually  impenetrable,  the  bushes,  often  small 
trees,  overhanging  the  stream  in  many  places. 
These  dense  evergreen  belts  of  laurel,  growing 
immediately  on  the  river  banks,  are  character- 
istic of  that  region,  forming  at  all  seasons  a 
fine  evergreen  shrubbery.  When  the  plants 
are  in  bloom  the  effect  is  very  beautiful,  as  the 
clusters  of  delicate  flowers  are  very  numerous, 
and  the  garlands  seem  to  hang  lovingly  over 
the  clear,  sparkling  waters,  as  they  speed  rap- 
idly on  their  downward  course  over  a  bed  of 
golden-coloured  pebbles.  After  a  high  wind, 
or  a  heavy  shower,  the  delicate  blossoms  are 


MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      53 

strewn  over  the  water  in  lavish  profusion. 
The  party  from  Valle  Crucis  was  compelled 
by  this  impenetrable  hedge  to  wade  long 
miles  through  the  channel  of  the  stream. 
They  pushed  bravely  on,  however,  and  at 
nightfall  came  to  a  small  clearing  in  which 
stood  the  solitary  cabin  of  a  hunter.  It  was 
built  of  unhewn  logs ;  the  chimney  consisted 
of  sticks,  crossing  one  another,  well  daubed 
inside  and  out  with  clay.  The  roof  was 
shingled  with  oak  boards  three  or  four  feet 
long,  kept  in  place  by  logs  laid  lengthwise, 
well  pinned  down,  with  here  and  there  a  heavy 
stone  to  give  additional  strength  against 
winds.  The  floor  was  of  hewn  lumber,  three 
or  four  inches  thick.  There  was  but  one 
room  in  the  cabin,  with  a  rude  bed  or  two  in 
one  corner,  three  or  four  rough  chairs  of  home 
make,  a  bench  or  two,  a  table  to  match  in  the 
centre,  and  a  huge  fireplace  where  logs  of  six 
or  seven  feet  could  be  piled  together.  Over 
the  door,  on  wooden  pegs,  lay  the  rifle,  always 
within  reach,  and  always  loaded.  Against 
the  outer  wall  of  the  cabin  were  hung  antlers 
of  deer,  while  skins  of  wolf,  bear,  and  panther 


54       MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

were  hung  up  there  to  dry.  Here,  in  the 
heart  of  the  forest,  lived  Larchin  Calloway,  a 
famous  hunter,  and  here  the  party  from  Valle 
Crucis  were  made  heartily  welcome.  They 
were  hungry,  and  dripping  wet  from  head  to 
foot ;  but  the  latch-string  of  a  mountain  cabin 
door  always  hangs  outside,  in  token  of  wel- 
come, and  cheerfully  did  the  rugged  hunter 
and  his  womankind  set  before  their  guests  the 
best  in  their  larder ;  abundance  of  rich  butter- 
milk; freshly  churned  butter;  potatoes,  red, 
long,  large,  and  mealy;  with  pones  of  corn 
bread,  and  coffee  of  parched  rye.  The  hos- 
pitable board  was  replenished  again  and  again. 

The  floor  of  the  cabin  was  the  only  bed ; 
the  young  men  stretched  themselves  out  in 
their  wet  clothes  before  the  blazing  fire  of 
huge  logs,  slept  soundly,  and  not  one  of  the 
party  took  cold.  It  was  a  common  saying  at 
Valle  Crucis  that  if  a  man  tried  to  take  cold, 
after  a  thorough  wetting,  he  could  not  bring 
it  about  in  that  high  mountain  region,  so 
bracing  and  healthful  was  the  air! 

The  next  morning,  after  an  early  breakfast, 
the   few  shillings  to    be   found    in    missionary 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.      55 

pockets  were,  with  some  difficulty,  forced 
upon  the  hunter,  who  was  unwilling  to  receive 
any  payment  for  providing  for  twenty  hungry 
men  and  boys.  In  a  few  hours  the  party 
were  at  home  again. 

In  cabins  like  this  Mr.  Skiles  and  his 
brother  missionaries  were  often  sheltered  and 
always  hospitably  received. 


V. 

In  August  of  1847  tne  Rev-  Mr-  Buxton  left 
Valle  Crucis,  and  entered  upon  missionary  and 
parochial  duties  at  Asheville,  where  he  still  re- 
mains after  a  ministry  of  forty-two  years* — 
1889 — one  of  the  most  respected  among  the 
clergy  of  the  Diocese.  Thanks  be  to  God  for 
this  and  every  other  long  pastorate ! 

The  Rev.  William  Glennie  French  was  then 
placed  by  the  Bishop  at  the  head  of  the  Insti- 
tution, in  1847. 

Important  changes  took  place  at  Valle  Cru- 
cis during  the  year  1847.  The  work  became 
strictly  religious,  including  the  Divinity  School 
and  Missions.  The  school  for  boys  was  bro- 
ken up,  and  the  few  lads  remaining  in  the 
valley  were  sent  to  their  homes.  The  store 
was  closed,  the  goods  on  hand  being  sold  at 
cost,  or  given   in  some  instances  to  the  poor. 

*  Dr.  Buxton  has  lately  resigned  his  charge  at  Asheville,  to 
take  effect  March  next. 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST    SKILES.      57 

There  were  at  that  date  three  religious 
services  in  the  Chapel  every  day — full  Morning 
and  Evening  Prayers,  and  also  a  short  noon- 
day service,  in  which  all  took  part.  Mr.  Skiles 
not  infrequently  read  the  Lessons.  Great  at- 
tention was  paid  to  training  the  young  men  in 
singing ;  all  who  had  good  voices  were  required 
to  practise  Church  music  regularly,  and  the  re- 
sult was  remarkably  successful.  The  chanting 
was  unusually  good.  A  clergyman  of  long 
and  varied  experience  declared  recently  that 
he  could  not  remember  ever  hearing  the 
Church  Anthems  so  effectively  and  so  nobly 
sung  as  by  the  choir  of  men  and  boys  at  Valle 
Crucis,  whether  at  the  daily  services,  or  at  the 
Holy  Communion  in  that  old  basement  Chapel, 
in  the  scattered  school-houses,  at  Mission  ser- 
vices, or  when  gathered  about  the  grave  of 
some  poor  member  of  the  flock. 

The  Mission  work  was  pushed  forward  with 
energy.  The  seed  sown  earlier  by  the  first 
missionary,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prout,  was  now  yield- 
ing good  fruit,  and  the  zeal  of  the  young  men 
at  different  outlying  stations  produced  happy 
results.    The  rural  population  were  softened  by 


58      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

these  charitable  labours  in  their  midst,  the  influ- 
ence of  the  Church  and  her  system  was  felt  and 
acknowledged.  The  good  people  learned  the 
chants  and  anthems,  and  took  pleasure  in  sing- 
ing them  in  their  rude  but  kindly  homes.  Little 
bands  of  men  and  women,  after  leaving  the 
schoolhouse  or  cabin  where  a  Sunday  service 
had  been  held,  would  often  go  on  their  way 
through  the  forest  paths  chanting  the  Bene- 
dicite — a  holy  song  of  praise  never  before  heard 
in  those  ancient  forests.  And  these  were  peo- 
ple who  could  not  read.  It  seemed  as  if  the 
Church  were  about  to  be  cordially  received 
into  the  hearts  of  the  simple  backwoodsmen. 
The  Chapel  on  the  hill-side  was  much  im- 
proved, within  its  walls,  at  least,  and  with  a 
suitable  chancel  and  furniture  received  a  more 
religious  character.*  Many  of  the  country 
people  from  the  neighbouring  hills  and  valleys 
now  attended  the  Sunday  services  regularly, 
and  occasionally  a  few  would  come  in  for  the 
daily  Prayers.      There  was  a  little  colony  of 

*The  Bishop's  chair,  ingeniously  constructed  out  of  laurel  by 
a  member  of  the  Mission  (Rev.  Mr.  Bland)  still  may  be  seen 
at  Valle  Crucis,  a  valued  relic. 


MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      59 

German  Lutherans  at  no  great  distance,  who 
gladly  became  connected  with  the  parish  at 
Valle  Crucis,  bringing  their  children  for  Bap- 
tism, and  receiving  Confirmation  and  the  Holy 
Communion  in  the  Chapel.  Several  Baptists 
and  Methodists  also  became  connected  with 
the  parish.  These  worthy  mountaineers  were 
naturally  intelligent,  and  their  hearts  opened 
readily  to  receive  the  good  instruction  offered 
to  them.  Their  ignorance  of  letters  was  very 
touching,  when  combined  with  natural  shrewd- 
ness, and  willingness  to  receive  religious  teach- 
ing. The  good  Lord  had  given  them  the 
hearing  ear,  and,  receiving  holy  truths  into 
the  "  honest  and  good  heart "  of  the  parable, 
many  brought  forth  blessed  fruits.  They  were 
deeply  impressed  by  the  reverent  solemnity  of 
the  Holy  Sacraments.  And  the  noble,  ancient 
chants  of  the  Church  seemed  to  penetrate  to 
their  very  hearts'  core.  At  times  they  sang 
them  with  tears  in  their  eyes.  The  mode 
of  instruction  employed  by  the  missionaries 
was  well  adapted  to  their  condition.  Direct, 
earnest,  plain,  catechizing,  the  heart-stirring 
Liturgy,  the  noble  chants,  with  short,  simple 


60       MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

sermons,  assumed  something  of  the  character 
of  the  ancient  Gospel  instruction,  when  books 
were  few,  and  the  faithful  were  hearers  rather 
than  readers.  The  missionaries,  however, 
pressed  on  the  secular  schools  at  the  same 
time  that  their  daily  religious  instruction  was 
necessarily  in  a  great  measure  oral  and  cate- 
chetical, among  a  people  who  could  not  read. 
They  were  looking  anxiously  forward  to  the 
happy  moment  when  the  Holy  Scriptures 
should  be  read  in  every  household,  when  the 
good  people  should  come  to  the  Lord's  House 
bearing  the  Prayer-Book  in  their  hands. 
Ignorance  is  an  element  never  yet  fostered  by 
our  Church.  A  number  of  these  humble  be- 
lievers in  the  wilds  of  the  Watauga  country 
seemed  to  receive  the  Christian  Faith  as  in 
very  truth  the  Pearl  of  Great  Price,  to  be  re- 
garded as  their  greatest  treasure.  One  of  the 
older  missionaries  remarked  that  "  it  seemed  as 
if  Christ  was  indeed  their  Life" 

Among  the  converts  was  a  poor  woman 
whose  previous  life  had  been  one  of  gross  sin. 
She  was  very  ignorant,  but  wandered  into 
the  Chapel  on  some  occasion  and  listened  to 


MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      6l 

the  service.  She  returned  again.  Her  heart 
became  deeply  touched  by  the  Confession, 
the  Prayers,  the  Lessons,  and  the  preaching. 
Again  and  again  she  returned  to  occupy  a 
seat  near  the  door.  At  length  she  seemed  to 
follow  instinctively  in  the  steps  of  the  Magda- 
len, throwing  herself  at  the  Lord's  feet,  and 
opening  that  poor,  sinful  heart  to  the  fulness 
of  lowly,  penitent  faith.  Many  were  the  tears 
she  shed.  She  seemed  never  to  weary  of  the 
holy  services.  Quiet,  earnest,  reserved,  she 
now  walked  humbly  day  by  day  in  the  paths 
of  penitence  and  love. 


VI. 

BUT  while  the  work  of  Missions  was  thus 
moving  happily  onward,  dark  clouds  were 
gathering  over  the  Diocese  of  North  Carolina. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1847,  Bishop  Ives  passed 
two  weeks  at  Valle  Crucis,  and  during  that 
time  a  new  religious  element  was  introduced 
into  the  work.  This  was  the  Order  of  the  Holy- 
Cross,  planned  by  himself,  and  which  he  in- 
tended, it  was  said,  to  develop  into  a  monastic 
institution,  connected  with  the  Divinity  School. 
The  Bishop  was  to  be  General  of  the  Order. 
The  members  were  to  be  divided  into  three 
classes,  one  at  the  valley,  taking  the  three 
mediaeval  vows  of  chastity,  poverty,  and  obedi- 
ence ;  a  second  class,  with  lighter  vows,  and  a 
third  to  become  general  in  the  Diocese.  Both 
clergy  and  laity  might  belong  to  either  class. 
Celibacy  was  enjoined  on  all  members  at  the 
valley,  but  might  cease  after  a  time,  unless  the 
individual  wished  to  make  the  vow  perpetual. 


MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      63 

The  Rev.  Mr.  French  was  appointed,  by  the 
Bishop,  Superior  of  the  new  Order,  that  ap- 
pointment having  been  declined  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Buxton,  to  whom  it  was  offered.  As  might 
have  been  foreseen,  many  of  the  divinity  stu- 
dents, with  the  glow  of  youthful  devotion, 
became  connected  with  the  Order.  And  the 
newly  ordained  Deacon,  William  Skiles,  also 
assumed  its  obligations.  This  was  a  step 
which,  under  the  peculiar  circumstances,  might 
have  been  expected  from  a  man  of  his  charac- 
ter. All  that  was  excellent  in  the  spirit  of  the 
Order,  the  self-denial,  the  devotion,  the  char- 
ity, must  have  been  attractive  to  his  religious 
nature.  The  dangers  from  exaggeration  and 
superstition,  from  what  may  be  called  private 
fancy — a  very  common  abuse  of  private  judg- 
ment in  this  century — he  could  not  foresee.  The 
history  of  the  Church  in  past  ages,  its  mediae- 
val history,  must  have  been  very  imperfectly 
known  to  him.  But  it  is  a  happy  truth  that 
what  might  have  become  dangerous  to  this 
good  man,  in  the  new  Order,  authorized  as  it 
was  by  his  Bishop,  would  seem  never  to  have 
disturbed  his  faith  or  his  practice.     No  trace  of 


64      MEMOIR  OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

superstition  can  be  found  in  his  private  life  or 
in  his  public  teaching.  He  was  ever  a  devout, 
simple-minded  Christian,  a  perfectly  sincere 
Churchman.  And  here  we  may  also  observe 
that  no  member  of  the  Order  from  Valle  Cru- 
cis  abandoned  our  Church. 

From  this  period  the  course  of  Bishop  Ives 
was   such   as    to    cause   great   anxiety   to  his 
friends.  There  gradually  appeared  a  vacillation, 
a  contradiction,  an  irritability,  in  his  language 
and  action,  which  those  who  knew  him  most 
intimately  attributed  in  a  great  measure  to  his 
physical  condition.     Of  his  earnestness,  his  zeal, 
his  disinterestedness,  there  could  be  no  doubt. 
But  discretion  and  judgment  appeared  to  waver. 
Valle  Crucis,  the  institution  founded  by  him- 
self, and  the  seat  of  the  new  Order  of  the  Holy 
Cross,  of  which  he  was  the  General,  naturally 
felt  the  ill  effects  of  this  state  of  things.     Mis- 
giving, doubt,   grave  suspicion,  increased  rap- 
idly.    As  might  have  been  foreseen,  there  was 
much  exaggeration,  and  even  injustice,  floating 
about  the  Diocese  as  to  the  state  of  things  at 
the  valley.     These  unfavourable  reports  natu- 
rally affected  the  financial  support  of  the  Divin- 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      65 

ity  School  and  the  Mission.     A  time  of  severe 
privation  was  at  hand. 

The  community  had  worshipped  but  a  short 
time  in  the  basement  Chapel,  after  its  improve- 
ment, when  the  whole  building  was  destroyed 
by  an  accidental  fire.  What  was  to  be  done  ? 
There  was  no  other  room  on  the  Mission 
grounds  at  all  suitable  for  a  Chapel.  But  the 
question  was  soon  decided.  The  brave  little 
band  determined  to  build  for  themselves.  They 
knew  that  money  for  Valle  Crucis  was  now 
raised  with  great  difficulty.  Funds  that  had 
been  confidently  expected  were  not  received. 
The  institution  was  very  poor.  Without  delay 
they  began  to  work  with  their  own  hands, 
every  member  of  the  Mission  taking  part  in  the 
labour,  which  was  severe.  The  plan  was  drawn 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  French.  The  foundation  was 
dug,  the  lumber  prepared,  and  the  work  carried 
on  by  the  young  men  themselves.  The  practi- 
cal experience  of  William  Skiles  was  of  great 
service  on  this  occasion  ;  as  we  have  already 
said,  in  his  youth  he  had  been  employed  in 
important  mills  ;  he  was  a  good  judge  of  lum- 
ber, and  skilful  in  preparing  it.  The  position 
5 


66       MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM   WEST  SKILES. 

chosen  for  the  new  Chapel  was  in  a  grove  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill.  The  design  was  Gothic  in 
character.  The  unhappy  experience  in  previ- 
ous years  with  crumbling  adobe  walls  in  that 
climate  decided  the  nature  of  the  material — it 
was  to  be  entirely  a  wooden  building.  The  ap- 
pearance of  the  little  Chapel  when  completed 
was  very  neat.  The  sides  were  weather-boarded 
with  planks  nailed  vertically  to  the  frame.  The 
floor  was  laid  with  undressed  planks,  not 
jointed  ;  so  that  it  was  rough  and  open.  The 
windows  were  simply  frames,  with  canvas 
nailed  across  them.  Sashes,  and  glass,  were 
too  expensive  to  be  thought  of. 

At  six  o'clock  every  morning  the  bugle  was 
heard  summoning  all  to  the  new  Chapel,  and 
fifteen  minutes  later  the  morning  service  be- 
gan. All  were  required  to  be  present,  unless 
absent  from  necessity.  Summer  and  winter 
the  hours  for  the  services  were  the  same. 
And  it  happened  frequently  that  the  little 
community  met  for  the  early  Prayers,  during 
the  cold  winter  mornings,  in  this  open  Chapel, 
which  could  not  be  heated  and  where  the 
windows  were  unglazed ;  while  the  thermom- 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      6j 

eter  reached  perhaps  ten  or  twelve  degrees 
below  zero.  A  number  of  the  students  were 
not  absent  from  these  services  once  during  the 
entire  year. 

Study  for  three  hours  followed  Prayers  and 
breakfast.  The  meals  were,  of  necessity,  be- 
coming more  and  more  frugal.  Very  frequently 
the  dinner  consisted  of  a  good-sized  piece  of 
bread,  and  an  ample  supply  of  milk  from  the 
herd  in  which  Mr.  Skiles,  "  Brother  William," 
as  he  was  now  frequently  called  was  so  much 
interested.  The  Rev.  Mr.  French  was  usually 
addressed  as  "  Father  William."  After  din- 
ner came  the  work  on  the  farm,  often  very 
hard  work.  By  the  Rules  of  the  Mission  two 
hours  of  labour  were  required  of  every  member 
of  the  community.  But  funds  had  now  failed 
entirely ;  nothing  reached  Valle  Crucis  from 
abroad,  and  so  entirely  were  the  young  men 
thrown  on  their  own  resources,  their  daily 
bread  depended  so  entirely  upon  the  produce 
of  the  farm,  that  during  the  harvest  season, 
days,  and  even  weeks,  passed  without  study. 
Manual  labour  was  needed  from  all,  throughout 
the  summer  day.     As  a  rule,  when  the  work 


68       MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

was  not  very  pressing,  the  young  men  were 
still  allowed  two  hours  for  study,  in  the  after- 
noon. But,  as  the  poverty  of  the  Mission 
increased,  the  labour  for  daily  bread  became  so 
engrossing,  that  a  portion  of  the  students 
deemed  it  a  duty  they  owed  to  the  Sacred 
Ministry  for  which  they  were  preparing,  to 
withdraw  from  the  Institution,  and  seek  situ- 
ations where  they  might  provide  the  means  of 
living  by  teaching,  a  portion  of  the  time,  and 
thus  secure  more  hours  for  carrying  on  their 
studies  with  regularity.  Bishop  Ives  never 
refused  his  consent  to  an  application  of  this 
nature,  though  he  always  endeavoured  to  dis- 
suade the  young  men  from  leaving  the  House, 
holding  out  hopes  of  a  speedy  improvement  in 
the  condition  of  the  funds.  All  who  knew 
him  remarked  that  he  was  a  very  sanguine 
man,  counting  too  largely  upon  favourable  re- 
sults. Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  in 
1848. 

The  Diocese  at  large  was  becoming  very 
anxious  on  the  subject  of  Valle  Crucis.  There 
were  painful  rumours  as  to  the  working  of  the 
Order  of  the   Holy  Cross.     Nevertheless,  the 


MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      69 

Committee  on  the  State  of  the  Church,  at  the 
Convention  of  '48,  meeting  at  Wilmington, 
made  a  favourable  Report  with  regard  to  the 
Institution  : 

"  The  importance  of  this  Institution  to  the  Diocese  is  im- 
mense as  the  nursery  of  a  future  Ministry.  It  appears  to 
possess  peculiar  advantages  for  this  work,  not  only  from  the 
retirement  for  the  time  being  of  its  students  from  the  distrac- 
tions of  society,  and  the  hardy  and  useful  discipline  to  which 
they  are  inured,  but  also  in  the  great  economy  with  which  it 
can  be  conducted,  your  Committee  being  informed  that  $50 
apiece,  per  annum,  may  be  made  to  cover  all  necessary  ex- 
penses, except  those  for  clothing.  It  has  been  placed  under 
the  charge  of  a  highly  capable  presbyter,  and  is  supported  by 
the  self-denying  labours  of  a  body  of  young  men  who  have 
literally  left  all  for  Christ.  Still  it  needs  the  fostering  care  of 
the  members  of  the  Church." 

Owing  to  severe  illness,  which  lasted  two 
months,  the  Bishop  was  absent  at  his  home. 
His  record  of  Episcopal  acts  was  read  to  the 
Convention.  This  long  illness,  which  prevented 
attention  to  official  duties  until  the  autumn, 
was  said  by  his  physicians  to  have  weakened 
his  whole  system,  and  in  some  measure,  to 
have  destroyed  the  healthful  balance  of  his 
mind.      From   that    date   there    appeared   in 


70      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

manner,  in  word,  and  in  action,  a  peculiar 
inconsistency,  and  vacillation,  which  was  re- 
marked by  all  in  frequent  intercourse  with 
him.  The  agitation,  and  anxiety  in  the  Dio- 
cese were  much  increased  by  this  condition  of 
the  Bishop. 

Meanwhile,  in  the  midst  of  trials  and  priva- 
tions the  work  at  Valle  Crucis  was  carried  on 
with  regularity  and  encouraging  results.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  French  reported 

"Added  to  the  Church  22  souls."  "Confirmed  6."  "Much 
of  our  success  as  Missionaries  is  due  to  the  years  of  patient 
labour  of  Mr.  Prout,  among  the  mountaineers.  He  has  been 
the  sole  priestly  representative  of  the  Church  for  a  long  sea- 
son. And  now  we  have  the  earnest,  and  zealous  co-operation 
of  Rev.  Wm.  Passmore,  Deacon." 

Rev.  Mr.  Prout  reports: 

"  Much  improvement  has  been  effected  in  the  religious  con- 
dition of  the  people  in  this  section  within  the  year.  The 
Church  is  felt  to  be  permanently  fixed  here,  and  is  conse- 
quently exerting  a  steady  influence  on  the  population.  The 
hopes  of  the  members,  and  friends  of  this  Mission,  are  begin- 
ning to  be  realized,  and  we  are  cheered,  while  we  wish  only 
to  work  in  quietness,  and  faith.  We  derive  new  confidence  of 
final  success  in  our  work  by  widening  continually  the  entire 
adaptation  of  the  arrangements  of  the  Church,  to  the  wants, 
and  capacities  of  a  plain,  uneducated  people." 


MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      J\ 

Rev.  W.  Passmore,  Deacon,  reports  assisting 
at  the  services  at  Valle  Crucis  three  times 
daily,  also, 

u  Sunday  services  at  South  Fork  on  New  River  ;  at  Lower 
Watauga ;  on  the  Linnville  ;  and  on  North  Fork  of  New 
River:  Baptisms  15,  Confirmed  4 ;  Communicants  added  6. 
At  Lower  Watauga  the  Church  is  now  firmly  established,  and 
is  growing  rapidly.  At  other  places  the  prospect  is  brighten- 
ing as  the  prejudices  of  the  people  have  been  in  a  great  meas- 
ure removed." 

At  the  ordination  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Passmore 
to  the  Priesthood,  which  took  place  later,  an 
incident  occurred  which  shows  the  illiterate 
condition  of  the  people,  the  great  want  of 
schools.  The  signatures  often  communicants 
were  required,  for  the  testimonials  of  good 
standing,  and  moral  character.  Only  five 
among  the  lay  communicants  of  the  different 
Mission  stations  could  be  found  capable  of 
writing  their  own  names.  Five  of  those 
worthy  men  made  their  marks,  instead  of 
writing. 


VII. 

THE  agitation  in  the  Diocese  was  now  be- 
coming very  serious. 

At  the  Convention  held  at  Salisbury,  May, 
'49,  Bishop  Ives,  in  his  opening  Address,  re- 
ported a  visit  to  Valle  Crucis : 

"On  the  18th  Sunday  after  Trinity,  I  officiated  in  the 
Chapel  erected  by  the  members  of  the  establishment,  to  a 
large  and  serious  congregation,  confirmed  five  persons,  and 
celebrated  the  Holy  Communion.  For  the  quieting  of  some 
minds,  disturbed  by  unfounded  rumours,  I  beg  the  Diocese  to 
be  assured  that,  at  this  religious  House  no  doctrine  will  be 
taught,  or  practice  allowed,  which  is  not  in  accordance  with 
the  principles,  and  usages  of  our  Branch  of  the  Holy  Catho- 
lic Church,  contained  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer.  And 
furthermore  that  the  property  of  the  establishment  has  been 
secured  to  the  Church,  for  the  use  of  the  Mission,  on  the 
above  specified  conditions." 

The  Committee  on  the  State  of  the  Church, 
at  the  same  Convention,  closed  their  Report, 
otherwise  satisfactory,  with  the  following  pas- 
sage : 


MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      73 

"  They  deplore  the  existence  of  great  agitation  and  alarm, 
arising  from  the  impression  that  doctrines  have  been  preached 
not  in  accordance  with  the  Liturgy,  and  Articles  of  this 
Church,  and  that  ceremonies,  and  practices  have  been  intro- 
duced, either  unauthorized  by  the  customs  of  this  Church,  or 
in  plain  violation  of  its  rubrics.  *  *  *  Another  cause  of 
alarm,  as  the  Committee  believe,  has  been  found  in  the  sup- 
position that  a  Society  has  existed  in  this  Diocese,  whose 
character,  rules,  and  practices  are  at  variance  with  the  spirit, 
if  not  with  the  laws  of  this  Church.  The  Committee  have 
assurance,  on  which  they  entirely  rely,  that  no  such  Society 
is,  at  present,  in  existence  in  this  Diocese." 

The  Society  alluded  to  was,  of  course,  the 
Order  of  the  Holy  Cross.  The  assurance  came 
from  the  Bishop.  At  a  later  day  the  Bishop 
declared  that,  from  the  date  of  the  Convention 
at  Salisbury,  the  Order  had  been  dissolved. 
Its  regular  existence  therefore  scarcely  cov- 
ered two  years. 

The  Bishop  was  again  ill.  But  he  sent  a 
short  Charge  to  be  read  to  the  Convention, 
very  earnest  in  denying  any  doctrines  or  prac- 
tices, repugnant  to  the  doctrines,  and  usages  of 
our  Branch  of  the  Church  : 

"  Your  Bishop  does,  by  way  of  Charge,  hereby  address  you, 
and  authorize  you,  when  you  return  to  your  parishes  to  assure 


74      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

your  people  that  no  efforts  shall  be  wanting  on  his  part,  so 
long  as  God  gives  him  jurisdiction  in  North  Carolina,  to  hin- 
der the  inculcation  of  any  doctrine,  or  the  introduction  of  any 
practice — come  from  whatever  quarter  it  may — not  in  strict 
accordance  with  the  Liturgy  of  our  Church,  as  illustrated  and 
defined  by  those  standards  of  interpretation,  authorized  by 
the  Church  itself.  In  respect  to  a  particular  question  which 
has  agitated  the  Diocese  of  late,  the  question  of  auricular  con- 
fession, I  may  here  express  my  conviction  that  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,  our  standard  of  Doctrine,  Discipline,  and 
Worship,  does  not  authorize  any  clergyman  of  this  Church  to 
teach,  or  enforce  such  confession,  as  necessary  to  Salvation, 
and  that  the  only  Confession  which  it  authorizes  is  the  volun- 
tary Confession  of  the  penitent,  in  accordance  with  the  exhor- 
tation in  the  Office  of  the  Holy  Communion." 


The  Convention  was  so  greatly  relieved  by 
this  communication  from  the  Bishop  that  it 
ordered  1,000  copies  of  a  pamphlet  containing 
the  Charge  of  the  Bishop,  with  the  Report  of 
the  Committee  on  the  State  of  the  Church,  to 
be  distributed  throughout  the  Diocese. 

The  Mission  work  at  Valle  Crucis  continued 
to  move  quietly,  and  steadily,  onward,  in  the 
midst  of  these  difficulties.  One  or  two  new 
stations  were  added.  The  number  of  blacks 
in  that  part  of  the  State  was  not  large,  but  a 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.      75 

small  coloured  flock  was  collected  for  service, 
and  instructed  by  catechizing  on  Sunday  even- 
ings by  Mr.  Prout.  And  the  hearts  of  the 
Missionaries  were  cheered  by  the  marked  im- 
provement in  the  moral,  and  religious  tone  ot 
the  people  as  shown  in  their  daily  life.  This 
was  a  frequent  subject  of  remark,  among  those 
familiar  with  the  country. 

In  July  Bishop  Ives  came  again  to  the  Val- 
ley, remaining  there  a  month,  preaching  on 
all  the  Sundays,  in  the  Chapel,  or  at  the  differ- 
ent Mission  Stations.  Thirteen  persons  were 
confirmed  in  the  Chapel.  During  this  visit 
the  Bishop  addressed  to  the  Diocese  a  Pastoral 
Letter.  The  effect  was  not  happy.  It  was 
considered  in  a  measure,  a  defiance  of  the  Dio- 
cese, and  a  partial  retraction  of  the  Charge 
written  three  months  earlier.  The  agitation 
in  the  Diocese  was  renewed. 

As  a  consequence,  the  difficulties  at  Valle 
Crucis  also  increased.  Support  in  the  way  of 
funds  ceased  almost  entirely,  and  the  Mission 
was  thrown  exclusively  on  its  own  resources. 
Some  of  the  students  had  already  sought  work 
elsewhere.     The  Head  of  the  Mission  at  the 


y6      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

Valley,  the  Rev.  Mr.  French,  was  hesitating  as 
to  the  course  he  should  take.  The  Mission 
family  had  become  very  small,  consisting  of 
Mr.  French,  Mr.  Passmore,  and  Mr.  Skiles  ; 
three  candidates  soon  to  be  ordained,  Mes- 
sieurs Bland,  Barber,  and  Murphy,  Divinity 
Students ;  Mr.  Geo.  Patterson,  Mr.  Heber  Dob- 
bins, and  Mr.  H.  Thomas,  Mr.  William  Alston, 
a  coloured  student,  with  Mr.  Dafter. 

In  this  discouraging  state  of  things,  a  com- 
bination of  religious  agitation,  and  pecuniary 
embarrassment,  the  year  1850  opened  upon 
the  Mission.  Throughout  these  trials  Mr. 
Skiles  moved  steadily  onward  in  the  path  of 
quiet  duty;  prudent  and  faithful  to  every 
trust ;  patient,  tolerant,  and  full  of  the  spirit  of 
charity.  At  this  period,  during  the  winter  of 
1850,  he  made  a  visit  to  his  friends  in  the 
lower  country.  Apparently  one  object  of  his 
journey  was  the  hope  of  rendering  quiet  ser- 
vice to  Valle  Crucis,  by  personal  communica- 
tion with  the  friends  of  the  Institution.  His 
sterling  character  was  already  well  known,  and 
sincerely  respected.  As  a  member  of  the  re- 
cently abolished  Order  of  the  Holy  Cross,  he 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST    SKILES.      J? 

could  bear  testimony  to  the  exaggeration  of 
the  reports  injurious  to  the  House,  and  he 
could  also  testify  from  personal  observation  to 
the  many  privations  of  the  community.  We 
give  passages  from  letters  written  about  that 
time  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  French, 

"Somerset  Place,  Jan.  10th,  1850. 
"I  have  been  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Collins  since  Saturday 
last.  I  was  staying  in  Plymouth,  and  my  friend  Mr.  Fitz- 
gerald came  there  and  hunted  me  up,  and  would  have  me 
come  here  ;  though  I  was  not  prepared  at  the  time,  I  could 
not  resist  his  persuasions.  I  shall  have  to  visit  the  Lake 
again  (Lake  Scuppernong),  as  Mr.  Collins  is  not  at  home.  I 
have  seen  him  only  a  few  moments  at  Plymouth  ;  I  am  anx- 
ious to  see  more  of  him,  and  I  understand  he  wishes  to  see 
me,  and  have  a  long  talk  with  me.  *  *  *  I  have  been 
suffering  from  my  back  very  much,  and  have  just  put  myself 
under  the  care  of  a  physician,  who  is  very  kind,  and  advises 
me  to  have  something  done  forthwith,  as  he  says  my  case  is 
one  that  should  not  be  delayed.  I  have  been  treated  with 
the  greatest  kindness  by  all  my  friends,  and  have  met  with  a 
hearty  welcome  here,  and  have  received  every  attention — more 
than  I  could  wish.  Bro.  Shepherd  was  very  glad  to  see  me, 
and  has  been  very  kind  to  me.  I  have  spent  most  of  my 
time  with  him,  and  with  my  friend  Fred.  Fitzgerald.  I  have 
assisted  Bro.  Shepherd  several  times  in  the  Lake  Chapel,  and 
last  Sunday  I  was  at  Pettigrew  Chapel,  and  aided  him  in  the 
services.     *  _  *     *     I  hope  Mr.  Dafier  will  come  back  satis- 


78       MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

fied  and  will  remain.  Please  write  me  immediately.  Tell 
George  Patterson  not  to  forget  to  send  me  some  Osage  Orange 
seed,  as  many  as  can  be  sent  in  a  letter.  I  forgot  to  bring 
them  to  my  friend  Mr.  Goelet.  Please  do  not  forget  this.  I 
fear  Valle  Crucis  is  in  bad  favour  with  Churchmen  in  this  Dio- 
cese ;  there  seems  a  want  of  confidence  in  the  teaching,  even 
in  this  part  of  the  Diocese,  where  they  are  certainly  more 
friendly  than  in  other  portions.  I  regret  exceedingly  to  find 
it  so — but  so  it  is,  and  those  doubts  seem  hard  to  remove. 
Some  things  that  are  small  matters  in  themselves,  have  given 
rise  to  suspicions,  and  many  reports  have  added  strength 
to  them,  in  the  minds  of  many.  And  when  some  of  the  re- 
ports are  denied,  they  answer  though  these  may  be  false, 
yet  there  has  been  cause  for  doubt,  and  they  cannot  help 
thinking  there  has  been  more  than  they  know  of.  I  have 
had  two  opportunities  of  receiving  Communion  since  I  left 
you.  Last  Sunday  I  received  it  from  the  Bishop.  I  am 
spending  my  time  very  pleasantly  here  with  Bro.  Shepherd 
and  friend  Fred,  until  dinner.  After  that  time  we  all  ride 
for  exercise.     *     *     *     Please  write." 

Not  long  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  French  left  Valle  Crucis,  and  re- 
moved from  the  Diocese.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Pass- 
more  then  took  charge  of  the  Institution  by  the 
appointment  of  the  Bishop.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
French  became  connected  with  the  arduous 
work  of  the  City  Mission  in  New  York,  where 
he  has  coctitfued  his  zealous  labours  until  th 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.      79 

present  date,  1889.  Mr.  Skiles  remained  in 
the  low  country  until  spring.  On  his  return 
to  Valle  Crucis,  he  wrote  to  Mr.  French.  The 
letter  gives  a  glimpse  of  his  work,  and  of  his 
character. 

"  Valle  Crucis,  May  21st,  1850. 
"  Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, 

*  *  *  "I  regretted  very  much  that  I  did  not  see  you 
before  you  left  V.  C.  Little  did  I  think  when  we  parted  on 
the  road,  the  morning  I  started  for  the  East,  that  we  should 
not  meet  again  in  V.  C.  But  I  hope  God  will  order  all 
things  for  the  best.  *  *  *  I  had  an  exceedingly  tedious, 
and  fatiguing  journey  homeward,  and  a  very  disagreeable  one 
altogether.  I  was  nearly  worn  out  when  I  reached  home 
It  was  three  weeks  from  the  time  I  left  Plymouth  until  I 
arrived  here.  Such  roads  I  never  travelled  in  all  my  life.  I 
stopped  several  days  on  the  road  and  met  with  a  good  deal 
of  kindness  in  Raleigh,  and  all  along  the  road,  from  Church 
people.  I  reached  home  in  a  snow-storm,  at  9  o'clock  at 
night,  the  Wednesday  before  Easter,  and  found  the  number 
here  very  small,  but  I  hope  contented,  except  W.  Alston 
(coloured)  who  I  think  intends  leaving  this  spring.  The 
Dafters  all  left  soon  after  I  arrived.  We  have  had  the  most 
disagreeable  spring  I  have  ever  known,  and  the  most  back- 
ward. There  has  been  more  cold  weather  than  I  have  ever 
known,  and  rain  almost  incessantly,  though  we  have  gotten 
all  our  corn  planted,  and  oats  sowed,  and  manure  nearly  all 
out.  We  have  now  our  beets  and  turnips  to  plant  ;  our 
wheat  begins  to  look  very  well.     Rye  is  backward.     We  had 


80      MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

frost  this  week  that  bit  our  corn  that  was  up.  I  have  had 
fire  in  my  room  every  morning.  I  expect  to  commence 
going  down  the  River  next  Sunday.  I  shall  go  down  two 
Sundays  in  each  month,  and  teach  the  children,  and  read 
service.  I  shall  have  to  give  up  my  school  here  to  George, 
most  of  the  time.  Mr.  Prout  goes  down  the  3rd  Sunday 
in  every  month,  and  I  go  down  the  2nd  and  4th  Sundays. 
Mr.  Prout  and  family  are  all  well,  they  were  over  here 
Sunday.  I  was  at  Boon  Tuesday,  and  saw  a  great  crowd  ; 
it  was  Court  week,  and  I  witnessed  an  amusing  scene. 
There  was  a  man  intoxicated,  who  was  very  rude,  and  treated 
the  Court  with  contempt.  For  want  of  a  jail  to  put  him 
in,  the  Court  ordered  him  taken  out  and  tied  to  a  wagon 
wheel  until  he  became  civil.  They  took  him  out,  tied  him, 
and  left  him  tied.  I  have  to  ask  you  about  a  coat  the  bishop 
gave  me  in  Raleigh.  It  was  he  said  one  you  gave  him  last 
fall,  and  he  gave  it  to  me,  and  as  I  was  not  enabled  to  buy 
any  clothes  down  the  country,  it  was  very  acceptable,  but  I 
did  not  like  to  keep  it  without  asking  your  consent  ;  if  you 
were  not  willing  I  would  be  glad  to  know  what  to  do  with  it, 
as  I  shall  feel  bound  to  do  with  it  as  you  direct.  I  hope  we 
shall  meet  again  in  this  life.  I  am  sure  I  should  be  very  glad 
to  see  you  again.  I  have  plenty  of  hard  work  to  do,  and  am 
very  tired.  I  have  but  little  time  to  write.  William  Alston 
will  I  think  leave  here  for  Raleigh  by  the  early  part  of  the 
summer  ;  he  says  he  has  no  associates  here,  and  feels  lonely. 
We  all  have  had  to  work  very  hard  this  spring,  and  were  so 
tired  after  our  labours  were  finished  that  we  were  glad  to  get 
to  our  rooms,  and  rest.  We  shall  expect  the  Bishop  in  July, 
probably  early  in  the  month.     Please  write  me  on  receipt  of 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      8 1 

this.  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  hear  from  you.  Believe  me,  as 
ever,  your  faithful  friend  and  Bro.  in  Christ.  May  the  Lord 
be  with  you,  and  prosper  you  in  your  labours  of  love  for  your 
fellow-men." 

From  this  period  the  ministerial  work  of 
Mr.  Skiles  increased  steadily.  The  Students 
of  Divinity  were  ordained,  or  left  the  valley 
for  other  positions,  and  their  vacant  places 
were  not  filled.  His  work  on  the  farm  was 
also  much  increased.  Never  an  idle  man — 
free  from  the  sin  of  indolence,  most  as- 
suredly— his  physical  strength  would  now 
appear  to  have  been  often  overtaxed.  His 
health  was  not  good. 

The  Report  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Passmore  to 
the  Convention  of  1850  gives  the  following 
facts:  &At  outlying  stations;  Baptisms  28, 
Confirmations  II,  Communicants  17.  The 
Record  for  Valle  Crucis  follows,  including 
the  services  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  French  until 
his  departure  :  Baptisms  50,  Confirmations  13, 
Communicants  25.     Mr.  Passmore  adds  : 

4 'The  Church  iu  this  region  is  flourishing.     It  is  however 
planted  among  the  poorest  class  of  people,  so  that  the  work 
must  probably  for  a  long  time  to  come  be  purely  Missionary 
6 


%2      MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST  SKILES. 

work.  The  people  are  plain  and  simple  in  their  habits,  and 
generally  do  not  care  to  make  more  than  a  living.  But  ihere 
has  been  a  great  change  wrought  through  the  Church  in  the 
habits  of  the  people.  Indeed,  every  day  almost,  we  can  see 
some  change  from  worse  to  better,  in  some  individual,  or  in 
some  department  of  life.  For  this  reason  your  Missionary 
believes  that  we  have  good  ground  for  thanking  God,  and 
taking  courage,  notwithstanding  our  manifold  trials." 

This  shows  clearly  a  satisfactory  state  of 
things  as  regards  the  Mission  among  a  poor, 
and  scattered  population,  formerly  strongly 
prejudiced  against  the  Church.  But  the 
work  was  to  be  still  more  severely  tried, 
owing  to  the  unhappy  course  of  Bishop  Ives. 


VIII. 

The  Convention  of  the  Diocese  met  in 
the  month  of  May  1850  at  Elizabeth  City. 
Bishop  Ives  in  his  address  alluded  to  his 
Pastoral  letter  of  July  1849,  which  had 
caused  much  agitation  in  the  Diocese.  He 
assured  the  Clergy,  as  a  body,  of  his  entire 
confidence  in  their  affection,  their  charity, 
and  firm  adherence  to  the  faith,  and  dis- 
cipline of  the  Church.  He  alluded  to  his 
nearly  twenty  years'  service  among  them. 
He  added  as  follows: 

"  I  claim  no  infallibility  beyond  honesty  of  purpose,  and 
diligence  of  duty  ;  and  no  indulgence  beyond  that  which  is 
extended  to  every  man  labouring  under  the  infirmities  of  a  hu- 
man judgment,  and  the  oft-recurring,  and  sometimes  prostrat- 
ing diseases  of  the  human  body."  "  I  neither  teach  nor  hold, 
as  some  have  thought,  Ptivate  Confession  and  Absolution  in 
the  Romish  sense"  ' '  As  regards  Christ's  Real  Presence  in  the 
Holy  Eucharist,  I  neither  teach,  nor  hold  it,  in  the  sense  of 
Transnbstantiation"  "  I  do  not  hold  nor  teach,  that  the  crea- 
tures of  Bread  and  Wine  in  the  Holy  Eucharist  are  to  be  re- 


84      MEMOIR  OF   WILLIAM  WEST   SKILES. 

served,  and  carried  about,  lifted  up,  or  worshipped.  "  "  I  do 
not  teach  nor  hold  that  our  Church  allows  any  address  by  way 
of  Prayer,  or  Invocation,  to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  or  to  any 
Saint  or  Angel;  I  regard  the  Romish  doctrine  of  Invocation  of 
Saints,  implying  meritorious  mediation,  as  clearly  derogatory 
to  Christ,  and  opposed  to  God's  Word."  "Finally,  I  do  not 
teach  nor  hold  that  our  Branch  of  the  Catholic  Church  is,  from 
any  cause,  in  heresy,  or  schism,  or  that  she  is  destitute  of  the 
true  sacramental  system." 

Towards  the  close  of  the  Convention,  the 
Bishop  sent  the  following  communication  to 
that  Body. 

"  Brethren  of  the  Convention,  *  *  *  Aware  that  the  diffi- 
culties of  this  Diocese,  to  which  I  have  alluded  in  my  Ad- 
dress, still  threaten  the  peace  of  the  same,  and  being  anxious 
to  do  all  in  my  power  to  restore  harmony  and  good  will,  I 
hereby  ask  of  you  a  Committee  of  Clergymen,  and  Laymen, 
to  investigate  all  the  circumstances  connected  therewith,  and 
to  report  to  a  future  Convention  of  this  Body. 
"L.  Silliman  Ives, 

"  Bishop  of  North  Carolina" 

In  accordance  with  this  request  of  the  Bishop, 
a  Committee  of  Six  was  appointed,  to  report 
to  the  next  convention.  In  the  usual  Re- 
port on  the  State  of  the  Church,  that  Commit- 
tee expressed  great  satisfaction,  with  the  ex- 


MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM   WEST  SKILES.      85 

planation  given  by  the  Bishop,  of  the  doctrines 
held,  and  taught  by  him,  and  looked  forward 
with  hope  to  the  "  restoration  of  the  peace  and 
harmony  for  which  this  Diocese  was  formerly 
distinguished." 

Meanwhile  in  spite  of  many  difficulties  the 
Mission  work  at  Valle  Crucis  was  carried  on 
with  unceasing  fidelity,  Mr.  Skiles  becoming 
more  prominent  in  the  scattered  mountain  sta- 
tions, while  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prout,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Passmore  were  also  engaged  in  the  same 
duties.  Mr.  Prout  had  now,  however,  left  his 
former  home  at  Valle  Crucis,  and  was  living  at 
the  Upper  Watauga  Settlement.  The  disturb- 
ance in  the  Diocese,  and  the  diminished  num- 
ber of  labourers,  at  the  different  stations  natu- 
rally produced  some  effect  among  the  country 
people,  though  less  than  might  have  been  sup- 
posed. There  was  still  much  that  was  en- 
couraging in  many  households  connected  with 
the  Church.  The  good  people  still  came  from 
their  scattered  mountain  homes,  along  the  forest 
paths,  to  attend  the  services  ;  and  they  were 
regular  in  coming  to  the  Holy  Communion. 
And  the  great  Church  Festivals  were  reverently 


86      MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  WEST  SKILES. 

observed  ;  there  still  came  together  at  Valle 
Crucis,  in  the  rude  Chapel  built  by  the  young 
men,  or  at  the  log  house  of  Mr.  Prout  on  the 
Upper  Watauga,  devout  men  and  women  from 
all  the  neighbouring  stations.  Christmas,  and 
Easter,  and  Whitsunday,  were  Holy  Days,  full 
of  religious  joy,  and  gracious  charities.  Yes  ; 
thanks  be  to  God,  so  long  as  the  world  shall 
last,  those  sacred  Festivals  connected  with  the 
sublime  events  in  the  life  on  earth  of  our  blessed 
Lord  must  ever  bring  the  holy  joys  of  Faith 
to  the  hearts  of  the  devout,  even  when  they 
recur  amid  individual  sorrows,  or  beneath  the 
clouds  of  public  disturbance,  or  even  among 
trials  within  the  bosom  of  the  Church  Herself. 

"  The  Lord  reigneth  be  the  Earth  never  so 
unquiet ! " 

The  settlement  on  the  Upper  Watauga  had 
become  a  station  of  especial  interest. 

"  The  house  of  the  Widow  Moody,"  writes 
Mr.  Prout,  "was  long  a  sort  of  social  centre  on 
the  Upper  Watauga.  Here  the  Missionary  first 
learned — in  1842 — that  a  log  cabin  may  shelter 
happy  people.  More  generous,  sweeter  Chris- 
tian hospitality,  more  glad,  more  cheerful  kind- 


MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  WEST  SKILES,      87 

ness,  are  seldom  met  with,  than  this  worthy 
family  showed  me  when  a  stranger,  and  alone. 
There  was  a  native  refinement,  and  a  balance  of 
judgment  about  the  character  of  the  mother  of 
the  family.  I  shall  not  soon  forget  her  invaria- 
ble reply  to  the  inquiries  of  her  friends,  when 
asking  after  her  welfare — she  was  blind,  with 
many  infirmities,  and  many  cares,  and  yet  the 
answer  of  Christian  Faith  never  failed  :  ■  Thank 
God,  no  reason  to  complain  ! '  There  was  in 
that  far-off  frontier  settlement,  a  simplicity  of 
manner,  a  generous  tone,  not  often  excelled — a 
graceful  modesty,  an  unassuming  dignity,  very 
rare — but  in  harmony  with  the  grand,  and  beau- 
tiful scenery  of  the  region.  The  last  house  of 
the  settlement  was  built  at  the  very  base  of  the 
*  Grandfather.'  The  clearings  about  these  iso- 
lated cabins  were  so  narrow  as  to  be  almost  un- 
perceived  in  the  vast  majestic  wilderness  of  state- 
ly trees.  The  loneliness  of  the  settlers  however, 
never  seemed  to  mar  their  cheerfulness.  And 
yet  I  recall  scenes  of  great  distress,  in  times  of 
sickness,  and  death.  On  one  occasion  I  remem 
ber  the  children  were  all  ill,  at  the  last  cabin — 
no  doctor,  no  medicines,  and  not  much  food — 


88      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

and  all,  sick  and  well  in  one  room,  the  only- 
room.  A  walk  through  the  forest,  in  the  night, 
brought  the  Missionary  there,  to  render  all 
the  service  in  his  power.  Two  of  the  children 
died  before  daybreak.  During  the  next  day, 
decent  preparations  were  made,  with  great 
exertion,  and  in  the  evening  the  children  were 
buried  in  one  grave,  by  torchlight.  It  was 
the  best  we  could  do." 

It  was  in  this  wild  scattered  hamlet  on  the 
Upper  Watauga,  where  some  eight  or  nine 
years  earlier,  he  had  been  so  kindly  received 
when  a  lonely  wanderer,  that  Mr.  Prout  was 
now  living,  in  a  log  house,  built  partly  with  his 
own  hands.  The  parishioners  here  were  more 
numerous,  than  at  any  other  station.  Here 
the  services  had  been  frequent,  and  were  well 
attended.  The  Missionary  was  anxious  to 
build  a  little  Chapel.  And  quite  unexpectedly. 
he  was  encouraged  in  the  plan  by  an  unfore- 
seen offering  of  $300,  from  a  layman  of  the 
Church,  who  did  not  wish  his  name  recorded, 
excepting  as  "a  man  in  affliction"  The  work 
was  immediately  commenced.  The  site  chosen 
was  a  ledge  of  rock,  on  the  Western  bank  of 


MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM   WEST  SKILES.      89 

the  Watauga,  and  only  a  few  rods  from  the 
cabin  of  the  Missionary.  It  was  built  of  logs, 
very  neatly  hewn  by  the  loving  hands  of 
Levi  Moody,  the  widow's  son,  "  a  good, 
guileless  man."  This  rustic  Chapel  was  about 
40  feet  long,  and  15  wide,  very  compactly 
built.  There  was  a  little  chancel  at  the 
East  end,  with  an  oaken  altar,  beneath  a  win- 
dow. There  was  also  a  narrow  window  in 
each  of  the  side  walls.  The  roof  was  steep, 
and  showed  the  rafters  on  the  inside.  The 
seats  were  rude  benches.  Loving  pains  were 
taken  to  give  the  little  Chapel  a  neat  ap- 
pearance and  appropriate  character,  without, 
and  within.  The  Missionary  gave  it  the  name 
of  "  Easter  Chapel,"  in  especial  reference  to 
the  doctrine  of  the  Resurrection,  and  in  con- 
nection with  the  devotion  of  the  mountaineers 
in  keeping  that  great  Festival.  Bishop  Ives 
was  expected  to  consecrate  the  building,  at  his 
next  Visitation. 


IX. 

The  Convention  of  '51  was  held  at  Fayette- 
ville.  Mr.  Skiles  was  a  member,  and  took  his 
seat  as  Missionary  for  Watauga.  Mr.  Pass- 
more,  Missionary  at  Valle  Cruris,  reported 
Baptisms  17;  Confirmations  8;  Communicants 
23.  Mr.  Prout,  Missionary  at  John's  River, 
and  parts  adjacent  reported  Baptisms  13; 
Confirmed  6;  Communicants  added  3. 

The  Committee  of  Inquiry,  asked  for  by  the 
Bishop,  was  increased  in  number  to  twelve 
members,  with  additional  powers  for  investi- 
gation, and  conference  with  the  Bishop. 

The  Committee  reported  a  conference  with 
the  Bishop,  in  which  he  alluded  to  "  a  high 
state  of  nervous  excitement,  arising  either 
from  bodily  disease  or  a  constitutional  in- 
firmity." He  declared  that  he  had  been  "  in- 
sensibly led  into  the  adoption  of  opinions  on 
matters  of  doctrine,  and  to  a  public  teaching 
of   them,  of  the  impropriety  of  which  he  was 


MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      9 1 

now  fully  satisfied,  and  upon  a  review  of  those 
opinions  wonders  that  he  should  ever  have 
entertained  them.  That  this  change  in  his 
views  had  been  brought  about  in  part,  by  a  re- 
turn to  a  more  healthy  condition  of  body  and 
mind."  He  then  mentioned  particularly  his 
having  tolerated  the  Romish  notion  of  the  In- 
vocation of  Saints,  which  he  "  now  retracts, 
and  would  denounce  as  strongly  as  any  one." 
He  mentions  ''extravagances  of  opinions,  or 
expressions  "  on  Auricular  Confession  and  Ab- 
solution, which  he  now  rejects.  He  declared  he 
was  "now  satisfied  beyond  a  doubt  our  Church 
was  not  in  a  state  of  schism,  on  which  point, 
he  had  once  entertained  doubts."  That  he 
had  always  "  abhorred  the  doctrine  of  Tran- 
substantiation."  That  "  the  spiritual  presence 
of  Christ  in  the  Eucharist  was  the  doctrine 
our  Church  teaches"— not  Christ's  bodily  pres- 
ence in  the  Eucharist. 

Such,  essentially,  was  the  paper  signed  by 
Bishop  Ives.  With  regard  to  the  Order  of 
the  Holy  Cross  he  declared  that,  "No  such 
order  is  now  in  existence."  "  That  from  his 
experience  of  the  result  upon  the  minds  of  the 


92      MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

young  men,  he  is  now  satisfied  that  no  vows 
besides  those  expressly  required  by  our  Ritual 
ought  to  be  taken  in  our  Church  ;  and  further- 
more that  any  vows  beyond  these  are  con- 
trary to  the  spirit  of  our  Church,  and  are  a 
temptation  and  a  snare  to  those  who  take 
them.  And  that  Valle  Crucis  is  now  only  a 
Missionary  Station." 

Dr.  Page,  the  Bishop's  physician,  had  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  the  Committee  giving  a  de- 
cided medical  opinion,  that  the  Bishop's  mind 
had  been  affected  to  a  certain  extent  by  the 
state  of  his  health.  Other  testimony  from 
trustworthy  authority  declared  that  for  several 
years  the  Bishop  had  been  in  a  state  of  mental 
excitement  which  had  impaired  his  memory, 
and  had  rendered  quite  uncertain  the  deter- 
mination of  his  judgment.  An  oral  state- 
ment, quite  in  detail,  was  also  made  by  Mr. 
Collins,  a  warm  personal  friend  of  the  Bishop, 
showing  that  his  mind,  had  been  for  several 
years  past,  after  an  attack  of  fever,  singularly 
affected,  so  as  to  impair  his  judgment,  and  en- 
feeble his  memory,  while  other  faculties  had 
been  unduly  excited.     "A  state  of  mind,"  ob- 


MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM   WEST    SKILES.      93 

served  the  Committee,  "  well  calculated  to  mis- 
lead its  subject,  and  at  the  same  time  expose 
him  to  gross  misconception  on  the  part  of 
others." 

The  Bishop  continued  to  take  his  usual  part 
in  the  religious  services  of  the  Convention, 
and  a  strong  feeling  of  tenderness,  and  sym- 
pathy for  his  peculiar  situation  was  felt  by 
many.  On  the  last  day,  June  2nd,  towards 
the  close  of  the  proceedings,  and  aware  of  the 
facts  reported  by  the  Committee,  Mr.  Badger 
rose  and  asked  leave  to  withdraw  a  Resolution 
offered  by  him  early  in  the  Session,  asking  for 
the  resignation  of  the  Bishop.  Leave  was 
unanimously  granted. 

The  Convention  of  1852  met  in  May  at 
Fayetteville.  Mr.  Skiles  was  again  one  of  the 
delegates. 

In  his  Address  the  Bishop  expressed  great 
thankfulness  for  the  peace,  and  unity  of  the 
Diocese.     A  passage  from  his  Address  follows  : 

"In  our  Branch  of  the  Church  Catholic  there  are  pleasing 
indications  of  increased  stability  in  the  Faith,  and  increased 
zeal  for  the  salvation  of  men.  But  what,  in  the  view  of 
your  Bishop  is  at  present  demanded  to  give  depth,  and  sub- 


94      MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

stantial  reality  to  this  advancement,  is  a  thorough  knowledge 
of,  and  simple  adherence  to  the  Teaching  of  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer.  As  Churchmen  we  are  bound,  as  honest 
men  even,  to  shape  our  Faith,  and  practice  to  its  plain,  and 
natural  meaning — to  allow  no  fancy,  or  prejudice,  of  our  minds 
to  warp  that  meaning,  or  become  the  ground  of  departure 
from  it." 

On  this  topic,  in  its  different  bearings,  the 
Bishop  enlarged  very  fully.  It  was  the  prin- 
cipal subject  of  his  Address.  He  mentioned  a 
service  at  Valle  Crucis  : 

"Fifth  Sunday  after  Trinity,  in  the  morning,  at  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Cross,  Valle  Crucis,  preached,  con- 
firmed three  persons,  and  celebrated  the  Lord's  Supper.  In 
the  evening  preached  at  the  house  of  Rev.  Mr.  Prout  at  Up- 
per Watauga. " 

The  Report  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Prout  to  the 
same  Convention  follows : 

"  I  have  held  Divine  service  once  a  month  at  Linnville, 
about  12  miles  from  my  residence,  during  half  the  year. 
Once  a  month  I  have  preached,  and  administered  the  Holy 
Communion,  at  Valle  Crucis.  At  my  own  residence,  Upper 
Watauga  monthly  services  have  been  held.  On  the  remaining 
Sunday  of  each  month,  I  have  preached  at  Lower  Watauga. 
This  latter  station  I  have  frequently  visited  twice  a  month, 
delivering  familiar  lectures  on  the  Catechism.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Skiles,   Deacon,    officiating  at   this  Station,    has  also    held 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      Q$ 

monthly  services  there,  on  Sundays,  also  in  the  Chapel  at  Valle 
Crucis  ;  and  has  visited  on  New  River,  holding  Divine  service. 
He  has  conducted  a  Sunday  School,  during  the  year,  with  an 
average  attendance  of  fifteen  children.  Also  a  day  school  for 
the  children  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Valle  Crucis,  for  about 
four  months,  and  a  catechetical  class  of  coloured  persons  has 
been  formed  under  his  care.  Baptisms  5;  Confirmed  3; 
Communicants  18  ;  Offertory  Collections  $10.40.  The  con- 
struction of  a  Chapel  in  the  neighbourhood  of  my  residence, 
through  the  liberality  of  a  layman  of  the  Church,  is  so  far  ad- 
vanced that  it  will  probably  be  ready  for  Consecration  next 


At  this  date  Mr.  Prout,  and  Mr.  Skiles,  had 
become  the  only  labourers  in  the  Watauga 
country.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Passmore  had  left  the 
Diocese.  The  Class  of  students  at  Valle  Crucis 
was  dispersed,  all  having  been  ordained,  and 
the  Divinity  School  broken  up.  William  Skiles 
was  now  the  only  one  of  the  former  commu- 
nity, remaining  in  the  valley.  But  he  did  not 
abandon  the  ground.  Every  exertion  in  his 
power  was  now  made  by  him  for  the  spiritual 
benefit  of  the  scattered  flock  in  that  neigh- 
bourhood. 

Meanwhile  "the  good,  and  guileless  man," 
hewing  so  neatly  the  logs  of  the  Chapel  at 


g6      MEMOIR    OF  WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

Upper  Watauga,  had,  with  the  assistance  of 
others,  completed  the  good  work.  The  little 
fund  given  by  the  "man  in  affliction,"  had 
been  prudently  used,  and  a  neat  and  churchly 
little  building  of  hewn  logs  stood  complete  on 
the  rock.  The  Missionary  gave  it  the  name 
of  "  Easter  Chapel,"  and  the  property  was 
deeded  to  the  Church.  Bishop  Ives  came  to 
Upper  Watauga,  in  the  course  of  the  summer, 
to  consecrate  Easter  Chapel. 

This  proved  to  be  the  last  of  his  official  acts 
in  North  Carolina.* 

Towards  the  close  of  September,  '52, 
Bishop  Ives  applied  to  the  Standing  Commit- 
tee of  the  Diocese,  asking  for  an  absence  of 
six  months,  with  an  advance  of  $1,000  on  his 
salary,  to  enable  him  to  travel  for  the  benefit 
of  the  impaired  health  of  himself,  and  Mrs. 
Ives.  The  request  was  immediately  granted. 
The     necessary     arrangements     were     made. 

*  Easter  Chapel  alas !  that  was  built  on  a  Rock,  with  a 
perennial  spring  of  water  at  the  base,  despite  these  auspicious 
symbols,  and  its  fine  outlook  on  the  changeless  Grandfather 
Mt.,  has  long  gone  into  decay  and  ruin  !  Its  fate  was  hastened 
by  a  large  branch  broken  off  by  the  winds  from  an  overhang- 
ing oak,  which  fell  upon  and  crushed  in,  the  chancel  roof. 


MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.      97 

Bishop  Ives  sailed  in  October  for  Europe.  On 
the  22nd  of  December  he  addressed  a  letter 
to  the  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  North  Carolina,  resigning  his  office 
of  Bishop  of  North  Carolina,  and  declaring  his 
intention  to  make  his  submission  to  the  Church 
of  Rome. 

Thus  sadly  closed  the  connection  of  Bishop 
Ives  with  our  Church,  after  an  Episcopate  of 
more  than  twenty  years.  This  step,  so  afflict- 
ing to  the  Church  at  large,  so  especially 
afflicting  to  the  Diocese,  caused  little  surprise 
to  those  who  knew  Dr.  Ives  intimately,  those 
who  were  aware  of  the  peculiar  mental  infirmi- 
ties from  which  he  had  been  suffering  for  sev- 
eral years.  Some  few  were  indignant  at  the 
vacillation,  and  uncertainty  of  his  course.  A 
still  smaller  number  suspected  deliberate  Jesu- 
itism, and  insincerity,  a  suspicion  always  arous- 
ing indignation  in  minds  trained  by  a  Branch 
of  the  Church  Catholic  especially  distinguished 
for  open  frankness,  and  truthfulness,  in  word, 
and  deed.  But  the  majority  of  the  wisest,  and 
most  experienced  among  the  Clergy,  and  Laity, 
received  the  statement  of  Dr.  Ives  simply 
7 


98       MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

in  sorrow,  and  sadness ;  a  sorrow  blended 
with  recollections  of  previous  faithful  services 
in  the  Diocese,  and  with  compassion  for  the 
peculiar  infirmities  under  which  he  had  been 
recently  suffering.* 

Dr.  Thomas  Atkinson,  Rector  of  Grace 
Church,  Baltimore,  was  duly  elected  to  fill  the 
vacant  Bishopric,  the  28th  of  May,  1853. 

*  Extract  from  Report  of  Committee,  1853. 

"  These  two  objects  have  been  kept  constantly  in  view  by 
the  Diocese  of  North  Carolina.  First,  The  preservation  in 
full  purity  of  the  doctrines  and  practices  of  the  Church — and, 
Secondly,  The  exercise  of  as  great  kindness  and  forbearance 
towards  the  late  Bishop  as  was  consistent  with  the  first  of 
these  objects." 


X. 


The  effect  of  the  apostasy  of  Dr.  Ives  to 
Rome  was  much  less  marked  than  might  have 
been  supposed.  The  Clergy  of  the  Diocese 
remained  firm  in  their  allegiance  to  the  Church 
in  which  they  had  been  ordained.  In  the 
Watauga  country,  the  attendance  at  the  differ- 
ent Mission  stations  continued  encouraging. 

Mr.  Skiles  was  now  left  alone  on  the  old 
ground.  He  did  not  desert  his  post.  Hum- 
bly, quietly,  steadfastly,  and  with  the  fulness 
of  loving  charity,  he  devoted  himself,  exclu- 
sively, from  this  period  to  the  spiritual  welfare 
of  the  scattered  flock  in  that  mountain  region. 
There  were  many  difficulties  to  struggle  with. 

It  had  been  supposed  that  the  title  to  the 
property  at  Valle  Crucis  was  vested  in  the 
Church.     This    was    a    mistaken   impression.* 

*  The  following  is  Bishop  Ives'  account  of  his  disposition 
of  the   property  at   Valle   Crucis  in  a  letter,    dated,  "  Valle 


100    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

The  property,  heavily  encumbered  with  debt, 
was  sold,  both  land  and  stock,  by  the  repre- 
sentatives of  Dr.  Ives,  to  Mr.  Robert  Miller 
the  grandson  of  a  Church  clergyman  of  the 
olden  time,  who  now  worked  the  former  Mis- 
sion ground  as  a  farm.  He  was  very  kind  to 
Mr.  Skiles.  The  little  office,  or  library,  be- 
came the  home  of  the  Missionary  who  slept 
there,  taking  his  meals,  without  charge,  at 
Mr.  Miller's.  From  the  herd  which  had  been 
so  long  under  his  care,  the  good  Deacon  re- 
served a  favourite  horse  for  Missionary  work, 
and  several  pet  cows  ;  and  for  these  Mr.  Miller 
also  provided  liberally.  The  Missionary  took 
all  the  care  of  the  horse  on  himself.  Henry, 
a  fine,  spirited  roan,  was  already  a  sort  of 
brother  Missionary,  carrying  his  master  faith- 
fully, by  day,  and   night,  over  many  a  rugged 

Crucis,  Aug.  17,  1849."  "  Friends  came  forward  and  aided  me 
to  the  amount  of  about  $1,500.  Upon  this,  I  at  once  altered 
the  Deed  of  Trust  to  the  Church  for  the  use  of  the  Mission, 
so  as  to  preclude  my  life  estate  in  the  property  and  only  re- 
served to  myself  the  management  of  the  establishment  during 
my  natural  life."  He  asserts,  in  the  same  letter,  that  he  had 
spent  on  the  property  more  than  $5,000  of  his  own  means. 
The  Deed  of  Trust  mentioned  above,  was  never  made 
public. 


MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.    IOT 

path,  on  errands  of  duty,  or  charity.  The  cows 
were  reserved  for  the  benefit  of  poor  parishion- 
ers. He  lent  them  to  different  families,  where 
there  were  sick  ones,  or  young  children,  and  in 
order  not  to  tax  his  poor  friends,  and  to  make 
his  cows  more  comfortable,  he  sent  supplies  of 
meal  to  the  scattered  cabins.  But  it  was  re- 
marked that  the  cows  often  returned  to  Father 
Skiles,  very  thin,  and  looking  much  as  if  they 
had  not  had  their  full  share  of  the  meal.  This 
troubled  the  good  man  greatly,  for  two  rea- 
sons ;  he  had  a  warm  corner  in  his  heart  for 
every  living  creature,  especially  for  what  was 
under  his  care,  and  he  was  grieved  to  suspect 
the  honesty  of  his  parishioners  in  the  log  cab- 
ins. With  a  troubled  face,  he  confided  pri- 
vately to  a  friend,  that  he  did  not  know 
whether  he  could  lend  the  cows,  to  this,  or 
that,  family  again.  The  poor  things  had  come 
back  so  thin !  Nevertheless  it  is  said  that 
the  cows  were  seen  again  trudging  along  the 
mountain  paths  to  the  same  cabin  doors;  but 
it  was  surmised  that  private  pastoral  repri- 
mands had  secured  the  promise  of  a  more  lib- 
eral supply  of  meal  to  the  poor  creatures. 


102    MEMOIR    OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

The  Report  of  Mr.  Skiles,  for  the  year  1853 
follows : 

"Baptism,  i  adult.  Confirmation  i.  Communicants 
20.  Offerings  at  Communion,  $9.75.  I  have  assisted  once 
a  month  in  the  Chapel  at  Valle  Crucis.  I  have  kept  up  a  Sun- 
day School,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  George  N.  Evans, 
consisting  of  a  class  of  white  children  every  Sunday  morning, 
and  of  a  class  of  coloured  persons  and  children  in  the  after- 
noons, until  about  Christmas.  Since  that  time  I  have  not 
been  able  to  keep  it  regularly.  I  have  taught  a  day  school, 
nearly  four  months,  gratis,  for  the  children  in  the  vicinity  of 
Valle  Crucis.  I  have  held  service  once  a  month  at  a  private 
house  on  Lower  Watauga,  and  occasionally  at  Easter  Chapel, 
on  Upper  Watauga.  Also  at  Cranberry  Forge  once  a  month, 
for  nine  months.  At  Linnville  about  "six  months,  and  occa- 
sionally at  Bottoms  of  Elk,  or  near  there.  There  is  mani- 
festly an  increased  interest  in  the  services  of  the  Church,  and 
many  are  inquiring  for  the  good  old  paths." 

The  Report  of  Mr.  Prout  for  the  same  year 
follows : 

"  Lenoir,  the  valley  of  the  Yadkin,  and  Valle  Crucis,  are 
the  stations  which  I  have  regularly  visited.  In  the  Chapel  at 
Valle  Crucis,  I  have  preached,  and  administered  the  Holy  Com- 
munion the  first  Sunday  of  each  month  in  the  year.  St. 
Andrew's  church,  Lenoir,  was  consecrated  last  summer  by 
Bishop  Ives,  to  the  worship  of  God,  according  to  the  Liturgy 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.     On  the  same  Visitation 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.    103 

he  also  consecrated  a  Chapel  near  my  residence,  in  Watauga 
County,  by  the  title  of  Easter  Chapel.  Divine  service  has 
been  held  there  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Skiles,  since  my  removal.  I 
cannot  say  that  our  discouragements  are  few,  or  that  our  pros- 
pects are  very  cheering  in  this  circuit  of  Missionary  labour  ; 
yet  the  remarkable  events  of  last  year  have  unsettled  none 
among  us,  nor  disheartened  us  in  an  unusual  degree.  If  the 
defection  of  Bishop  Ives  has  sharpened  the  enmity  of  any 
towards  the  Church,  and  given  a  fertile  occasion  to  those  who 
were  ready  to  wish  what  has  actually  happened,  I  hope  it  may 
also  have  increased  the  watchfulness,  and  humility,  and  patient 
courage  of  others.  It  is  to  be  wished  that  an  event  of  so 
much  sadness  may  not  be  without  indirect  benefit,  teaching 
as  it  does,  a  lesson  of  theological  discretion.  Baptisms  9. 
Confirmed  1.    Communicants,  9." 

Theological  discretion  !  Great  indeed  is  the 
need  of  that  form  of  wisdom,  in  the  present 
century  of  the  Church  Militant ! 

Two  events  affecting  the  work  of  Mr.  Skiles 
had  taken  place  during  the  year  '53.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Prout  had  removed  to  Lenoir,  where 
a  much  larger  congregation  were  urgent  for 
his  services.  But  he  still  came  with  regularity 
to  administer  the  Holy  Communion  every 
month,  in  the  Chapel  at  Valle  Crucis;  and  he 
never  lost  his  interest  in  the  Watauga  Mission. 

In  the  summer  of    '53  a  fellow-labourer  in 


104    MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

the  good  work  came  to  assist  Mr.  Skiles,  this 
was  Mr.  George  W.  Evans  a  layman  from 
Lenoir.  He  was  received  very  kindly  by  Mr. 
Miller,  who  gave  him  two  rooms  in  his  own 
house,  a  front  room  with  a  fireplace,  and  a 
bedroom  adjoining,  both  comfortably  fur- 
nished. A  particular  horse  was  placed  at  his 
disposal.  For  these  conveniences  and  three 
bountiful  meals  daily,  the  charge  was  three 
dollars  a  month  ! 

The  schools  kept  by  Mr.  Skiles,  both  Sunday 
Schools  and  day  schools,  added  greatly  to  his 
influence  among  the  country  people,  and  m.ust 
have  been  of  great  benefit  to  the  children. 
Schools  were  indeed  one  of  the  greatest  needs 
of  all  that  mountain  region.  His  steady  good 
sense,  his  singular  gentleness,  and  patience, 
and  his  warm  natural  affection,  fitted  him  re- 
markably well  for  teaching.  He  took  a  deep 
interest  in  his  little  flock,  and  they  learned  to 
love  their  kind  master.  They  were  very  wild 
and  ignorant,  but  none  the  less  dear  to  him 
on  that  account.  This  teaching  was  simply  a 
work  of  love,  there  was  no  payment.  Much  of 
his  time   was  also  given  to  visiting  the  sick. 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.    105 

There  was  many  an  isolated  household  in  the 
Watauga  country  to  whom  William  Skiles  was 
not  only  pastor,  but  also  physician,  and  occa- 
sionally nurse.  His  simple  medical  practice 
must  have  been  successful,  for  it  was  sought 
for  over  a  wide  reach  of  hill,  and  dale,  and  he 
was  generally  considered  a  safe  doctor  in  the 
ordinary  diseases  of  that  country.  Although 
that  mountain  region  was  entirely  free  from 
the  chills  and  fever  of  the  low  country,  yet 
the  people  were  very  liable  to  inflammatory 
attacks,  especially  during  the  winter  season, 
attacks  often  proceeding  from  carelessness 
alone.  But,  what  is  remarkable,  typhoid  fever, 
in  a  malignant  form,  occasionally  appeared  on 
the  highest  mountain  ridges,  where  the  air, 
always  fresh  and  bracing,  seemed  the  very 
elixir  of  life,  and  where  the  cool  and  brightly 
limpid  waters  filled  the  rocky  basins  in  an 
unceasing,  overflowing,  current.  There  were 
however  probably  two  causes  for  this  visita- 
tion of  typhoid  fever.  The  door-yards  of 
those  mountain  farms  were  almost  invariably 
untidy  ;  the  cattle  and  pigs,  and  fowls  were 
constantly  gathered  about  the  house  door,  and 


106    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

the  yard  never  thoroughly  cleaned.  It  is  also 
probable  that  many  of  the  mountain  springs, 
so  bright  and  clear  in  appearance,  may  have 
contained  decayed  vegetable  matter,  unwhole- 
some in  character.  Whatever  may  have  been 
the  causes  these  epidemics  of  typhoid  fever 
occurred  from  time  to  time.  At  such  seasons, 
some  messenger  from  a  log  cabin,  sent  in  haste, 
perchance  a  barefooted  boy  or  girl,  might  fre- 
quently be  seen  at  Mr.  Skiles'  office,  asking  for 
advice,  for  medicines,  for  religious  consolation. 
The  message  would  be  scarcely  spoken,  and 
the  subject  clearly  understood,  before  "  Father 
Skiles  "  would  make  ready  for  his  errand  of 
mercy.  Day,  or  night,  often  already  weary,  at 
times  suffering  from  pain  himself,  he  seemed 
instinctively  to  move  towards  the  sick,  his  case 
of  medicines  in  one  pocket,  his  prayer-book  in 
the  other.  At  times  the  distance  would  be 
great,  and  "Henry"  would  be  saddled  for  a 
tramp  over  some  wild  bridle-path  in  the  moun- 
tains. 

"  Father  Skiles  "  was  also  frequently  called 
upon  by  the  good  people,  far  and  near,  for  a 
Sunday  service,   perchance  in  a  school-house, 


MEMOIR  OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.    107 

perchance  in  a  log  cabin.  He  never  refused  a 
request  of  this  kind,  if  possible  to  comply  with 
it.  After  having  made  an  appointment,  he 
was  very  conscientious  in  keeping  it,  not  un- 
frequently  going  many  miles  through  rain, 
sleet,  and  snow  for  the  purpose.  The  people 
liked  his  services.  He  generally  preached 
plain,  simple,  short  sermons,  chiefly  tran- 
scribed, and  abridged  for  the  purpose,  from 
printed  volumes  recommended  to  him  by  ex- 
perienced brethren  among  the  clergy,  or  by 
the  Bishop.  The  mountaineers  liked  these  ser- 
mons. They  considered  him  a  good  preacher. 
His  stipend  at  this  time,  as  a  Missionary 
was  $100. 


XL 

In  the  summer  of  '54  Bishop  Atkinson 
came  to  Valle  Crucis  for  the  first  time. 

At  this  date,  only  a  year  or  two  after  the 
Divinity  School  had  been  broken  up,  Valle 
Crucis  had  already  a  sadly  ruinous  aspect. 
One  was  reminded  of  a  wreck,  so  far  at  least 
as  regarded  the  appearance  of  the  buildings. 
Put  up  hastily,  of  all  sorts  of  materials 
strangely  blended  together,  wood,  brick,  stone, 
adobe,  all  were  now  crumbling,  and  ruinous. 
The  Chapel  itself,  warped,  and  twisted  out  of 
shape,  was  only  held  together  by  many  heavy, 
unsightly  props  on  either  side — a  novel  kind 
of  flying  buttress.  It  was  scarcely  considered 
safe.     Still  monthly  services  were  held  there. 

Bishop  Atkinson,  in  his  Address  to  the  Con- 
vention, recorded  his  visit  to  the  Valley : 

"  Sept.  30th:  I  visited  Valle  Crucis,  in  itself  a  most  beauti- 
ful,'and  picturesque  spot.  *  *  *  It  is  now  the  seat  of  a 
Mission  where  two  faithful,  and  self-denying  men  are  working 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST    SKILES.    IO9 

diligently  for  the  temporal  and  spiritual  welfare  of  a  very 
destitute  population.  These  are  the  Rev.  Mr.  Skiles,  and  Mr. 
George  Evans.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Prout  also  officiates  once  a 
month,  at  the  Chapel  in  the  Valley. 

"Oct.  1st,  Sunday,  in  that  Chapel,  I  preached,  and  con- 
firmed six  persons,  and  afterwards,  assisted  by  Messrs.  Prout 
and  Skiles,  administered  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per." 

The  warm  interest  of  Bishop  Atkinson  in 
Mr.  Skiles  would  appear  to  date  from  this  first 
Visitation  to  the  ground  of  his  work. 

As  usual,  the  good  Deacon  was  far  from  idle. 
To  eke  out  his  small  stipend,  at  the  request  of 
his  neighbours,  he  now  opened  a  subscription 
school  in  the  Office,  or  Library.  Father  Skiles, 
as  he  was  frequently  called  now,  in  honour  of  his 
scanty  half-gray  locks,  and  venerable  beard,  al- 
ways fond  of  children,  knew  well  the  simple  lov- 
ing arts  by  which  their  hearts  are  won.  He 
always  blended  something  of  religious  teach- 
ing, suitable  to  their  age,  with  the  lessons 
from  spelling-book  and  reader.  School  hours 
over  and  the  little  ones  dispersed,  other 
labours  succeeded.  That  small  Office  was  sel- 
dom empty  in  the  day-time,  unless  the  Dea- 
con was  absent.     The    country   people  came 


IIO    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

constantly  to  consult  him.  The  Missionary 
was  a  sort  of  pluralist.  He  filled  by  unani- 
mous public  consent,  several  different  offices 
for  the  common  weal.  A  Minister  of  the  Gos- 
pel, a  schoolmaster,  a  sort  of  physician,  he  was 
also  public  scrivener,  and  legal  adviser.  Few 
days  passed  when  some  letter  was  not  brought 
to  him  to  read  and  to  answer ;  family  letters 
of  all  kinds,  business  letters,  legal  papers,  with 
these  his  pen  was  often  busy.  There  were 
then  many  men  in  those  valleys,  who  could  not 
write,  or  read  writing,  and  among  the  women 
there  were  very  few  indeed  who  could  even 
sign  their  own  names.  He  was  also  general 
counseller  to  the  neighbouring  population.  In 
perplexity,  in  troubles,  they  came  to  consult 
him,  old  and  young,  men  and  women.  The 
grist-mill  in  the  valley  drew  the  mountaineers 
from  their  cabins  to  bring  their  grain  for  grind- 
ing. Some  few,  very  few  in  fact,  came  in 
rude  waggons,  others  on  horseback,  some  on 
steers,  many  on  foot.  Most  of  them  carried  a 
gun,  a  backwoods'  custom  very  common  in 
that  region,  frequently  a  hound  or  two  fol- 
lowed.    The  sack  of  grain  was  carried  on  the 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.    Ill 

shoulders,  by  those  on  foot.  The  men  were, 
many  of  them,  clad  in  home-spun  tow  shirts, 
and  short  trousers  without  coat  or  shoes,  even 
in  winter.  They  were  rarely  in  a  hurry,  the 
movement  of  the  country  people  of  that  re- 
gion being,  almost  always,  slow,  and  deliberate. 
They  were  strong,  healthy,  quiet  and  com- 
posed, frequently  ruddy  from  exposure,  and 
exercise.  A  number  smoked  corn-cob  pipes. 
A  woman  riding  a  steer,  with  a  child  in  her 
arms,  and  smoking  a  corn-cob,  could  fre- 
quently be  seen  at  the  door  of  Father  Skiles' 
office,  bringing  the  little  one  for  medical  ad- 
vice. The  men  came  for  counsel  on  various 
matters.  The  variety  of  subjects  on  which 
the  good  man  was  consulted  was  really  won- 
derful. With  farming  he  was  considered  to 
know  more  than  the  mountaineers  ;  in  matters 
relating  to  stock,  whether  horses,  cattle,  or 
sheep,  he  was  held  to  be  an  authority,  and  his 
opinion  often  decided  a  purchase,  or  a  sale,  or 
settled  some  small  dispute.  Frequently  he 
acted  as  arbitrator  between  neighbours,  his 
opinion  being  generally  accepted  as  wise,  and 
just,     It  was  always  a  pleasure  to  him,  when 


112    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

he  could  act  as  peacemaker.  And  the  oppor- 
tunities for  earning  this  blessing  were  not  in- 
frequent. He  was  often  consulted  on  impor- 
tant matters  of  family  life,  the  division  of 
household  goods,  the  disposal  of  children,  a 
disturbance  between  husband  and  wife,  or 
brothers  and  sisters.  And  all  this  work  was 
done  simply,  and  quietly,  spontaneously,  as  it 
were.  He  was  unconscious  of  his  own  value. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  humble  of  men.  The 
sound  good  sense,  the  generous  heart,  the 
Lord  had  given  him,  acted  instinctively,  as  it 
were,  on  each  call  of  duty,  whether  trifling,  or 
important.  His  influence  throughout  that 
mountain  region  was  strongly  felt.  It  was  re- 
marked that  his  room  in  the  dilapidated  Office 
was  at  times  so  crowded  that  it  was  "  like  a 
little  Court." 

There  was  yet  life  in  the  valley,  although 
the  different  buildings,  with  one  or  two  excep- 
tions, had  already  fallen  into  a  ruinous  con- 
dition. There  were  the  children  of  Father 
Skiles'  school  playing,  and  shouting  about  the 
Office.  Across  the  valley,  in  the  meadows  be- 
yond the  little  stream,  labourers  might  be  seen 


MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.    113 

laying  up  fodder  for  a  herd  of  some  fifty  cat- 
tle. Near  the  buildings  in  the  home  field  some 
twelve  or  fifteen  sleek,  straight-backed,  broad- 
haunched,  small-tailed  calves  were  seen  gam- 
bolling, and  feeding.  Night  and  morning  a 
procession  of  twelve  or  fifteen  sleek,  glossy, 
Durham  cows  came  home  to  be  milked.  Of  the 
milk  and  butter  from  this  fine  herd,  no  account 
was  taken  ;  what  was  not  eaten  at  table,  or 
used  for  cooking,  was  left  freely  to  the  negroes. 
On  the  mountain  was  a  large  herd  of  fine  Dur- 
hams,  grazing  at  will.  Every  Saturday,  Mr. 
Miller  went  up  to  the  Alpine  pasture  to  salt 
the  herd  ;  occasionally,  for  a  holiday,  Mr.  Skiles, 
and  Mr.  Evans  went  with  him.  After  reaching 
the  wild  open  pasture,  the  usual  call  would  be 
given,  and  in  a  moment  the  great  creatures 
would  come  running,  jumping,  leaping,  in  their 
uncouth  way,  surrounding  the  visitors,  their 
kindly  faces,  and  large  dark  eyes  all  turned 
towards  their  friend  the  farmer.  The  Mission- 
ary was  always  pleased  to  see  the  herd,  a  num- 
ber of  the  cattle  having  been  under  his  care  in 
previous  years.  He  was  of  course  thoroughly 
familiar  with    their   clumsy    gambols,    at    the 

8 


114    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

"salting."  Strange  that  animals  so  finely 
formed  in  their  own  way,  should  be  so  awk- 
ward in  their  movements  !  How  different  from 
the  wild  creatures  still  haunting  the  woods  on 
the  same  mountains,  the  graceful  deer  leaping 
over  the  fallen  trunks,  beneath  the  shadows  of 
the  primeval  forest,  within  sight  of  the  pastures 
where  the  cattle  were  playing  their  rude  antics. 
It  was  a  regular  habit  with  Mr.  Miller  to  take 
gun,  and  hounds,  with  him  to  the  "salting." 
A  deer  was  almost  invariably  roused  on  return- 
ing, and  the  crack  of  the  rifle,  with  the  baying 
of  the  hounds,  was  often  heard  from  the  pas- 
tures where  the  herd  was  feeding.  The  cattle 
heeded  these  sounds  very  little,  they  were  sel- 
dom alarmed  by  them,  being  familiar  with  the 
dogs.  But  occasionally  when  the  chase  led 
through  the  open  ground  about  them,  they 
would  be  thrown  into  wild  terror,  for  a  time. 
In  one  year,  at  this  date,  about  '54,  seven  deer 
were  killed  within  the  limits  of  Valle  Crucis. 
One  day  the  children  in  the  Missionary  school 
heard  the  dogs  in  pursuit  of  a  deer,  and  pres- 
ently a  noble  heavily-antlered  buck,  of  great 
size,  was  seen  at  bay  in  the  mill-dam,  only  a 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.    1 1 5 

few  rods  from  the  school-room.  It  was  soon 
shot.  This  buck  had  been  so  well  fed  that  the 
depth  of  fat  on  its  ribs  was  almost  incredible. 
The  flesh  however,  had  so  strong  a  taste  from 
the  bitter  acorns  on  which  it  had  been  feeding, 
that  it  was  uneatable. 

There  were  great  fishermen,  as  well  as  hunt- 
ers in  the  valley.  A  brother  of  Mr.  Miller  was 
a  very  skilful  angler.  The  finest  of  brook 
trout  were  on  table  almost  every  day,  during 
the  season.  Occasionally  he  would  go  to  par- 
ticular points  on  the  mountain  streams,  familiar 
to  him,  equipped  with  rod  and  flies,  and  re- 
turn in  the  evening  with  perhaps  fifty  or  sixty 
trout,  some  of  them  nearly  a  foot  in  length. 
Mr.  Miller  was  something  of  a  naturalist,  rather 
too  much  so  for  the  comfort  of  his  friends. 
Among  his  pets  was  a  live  rattlesnake,  a  near 
neighbour  of  the  Missionary.  He  kept  it 
in  a  cage  on  the  porch.  On  one  occasion 
when  Mr.  Skiles  and  Mr.  Evans  were  passing 
through  the  porch  after  supper,  they  heard  Mr. 
Miller  calling  out  in  surprise:  "  Why,  what 
are  you  doing  here?"  It  was  the  rattlesnake 
with  whom  he  was  conversing.     The  creature 


Il6    MEMOIR    OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

was  crawling  about  at  leisure,  having  crept 
through  the  slats  of  his  cage,  flattening  himself 
to  an  incredible  degree  to  accomplish  the  feat. 
Mr.  Miller,  not  at  all  discomposed  took  the 
creature  by  the  neck,  with  a  pair  of  tongs,  and 
with  the  other  hand  held  the  tail,  rattles  and 
all,  and  coolly  replaced  it  in  the  cage.  On  an- 
other occasion  he  was  seen  riding  past  the 
Office,  with  a  bag  of  trout  at  his  side,  and  over 
one  shoulder  a  pole,  with  a  live  rattlesnake 
attached  to  it.  He  had  seen  the  snake,  caught 
it,  tied  it  with  a  strip  of  bark  to  a  tree,  until  he 
had  caught  trout  enough ;  and  then  fastened 
it  to  a  pole,  neck,  body,  and  tail,  and  carrying 
the  pole  over  one  shoulder,  rode  quietly  home 
with  the  deadly  reptile  at  his  back. 


XII. 

CHANGES  in  the  property  at  Valle  Crucis, 
with  the  increasing  dilapidations  of  the  build- 
ings now  led  Mr.  Skiles  to  seek  a  temporary 
home  among  different  friends  on  the  Watauga. 
For  a  time  he  lived  with  Mr.  James  Mast  at 
Upper  Watauga,  in  the  house  built  by  Mr. 
Prout,  now  removed  to  Lenoir.  Here  the 
Missionary  taught  a  little  school  for  a  time, 
holding  frequent  services  at  Easter  Chapel, 
while  he  visited  other  stations  also.  Wher- 
ever he  moved  his  labours  were  always  the 
same  in  character,  an  unceasing  succession  of 
quiet,  loving,  Christian  service,  for  the  good  of 
all  with  whom  he  was  thrown.  And  still 
Valle  Crucis  remained  his  head-quarters.  He 
was  enabled  to  retain  possession  of  the  Library, 
or  Office,  where  he  still  kept  his  books,  and 
medicines,  and  where  he  occasionally  passed  a 
week  or  two,  in  comparative  solitude.  His 
sole  companion   in  the  Library  at  this  period 


Il8    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

was  a  favourite  cat.  The  good  Missionary  was 
very  fond  of  this  creature,  making  arrange- 
ments for  its  comfort  during  his  absence,  and 
leaving  him  in  the  dignified  position  of  custo- 
dian of  the  Library,  a  position  he  is  said  to 
have  held  for  a  considerable  period.  When- 
ever the  Missionary  came  into  the  neighbour- 
hood on  errands  of  mercy,  he  never  failed  to 
visit  the  cat,  petting  him  and  bringing  him 
an  especial  treat  of  something  nice ;  he  also 
made  arrangements  with  a  family  near  at 
hand  to  provide  him  with  milk  from  time 
to  time.  The  books  were  always  found  in 
good  condition  ;  rats  and  mice  had  been  kept 
at  bay  by  the  custodian.  One  luckless  day  a 
party  of  young  men,  with  their  guns,  and 
hounds,  crossing  the  valley  for  hunting,  passed 
near  the  Library,  and  saw  puss  in  the  road. 
They  set  their  dogs  upon  him,  and  hounded 
them  on  until  they  had  worried  the  poor  crea- 
ture to  death !  An  act  of  gratuitous  cruelty 
this,  which  is  said  to  have  aroused  in  the  good 
Deacon  a  stronger  feeling  of  positive  resent- 
ment than  he  was  ever  known  to  have  shown 
before,  in  all  his  clerical  life.     He  valued  the 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.    II9 

cat  highly,  and  to  have  this  useful,  harmless, 
creature  so  cruelly  tortured  tried  the  Mis- 
sionary severely.  For  some  time  he  could  not 
speak  of  the  disgraceful  incident  without  in- 
dignation. 

Occasional  services  were  still  held  in  the 
Chapel,  and  Mr.  Prout  came  regularly,  once  a 
month,  to  administer  the  Holy  Communion,  to 
the  little  flock  gathering  there.  The  Report 
of  Mr.  Skiles  for  the  year  '55  follows : 

"I  have  held  service  at  the  following  places:  At  Lowei 
Watauga  once  a  month,  on  Sunday  ;  I  have  assisted  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Prout  five  times  at  Valle  Crucis,  in  the  services,  and  in  the 
administration  of  the  Holy  Communion;  three  times  I  have 
held  service  at  Elk  Cross-Roads  ;  four  times  at  Jefferson; 
twice  on  the  Linnville  ;  six  times  at  Easter  Chapel ;  seven 
times  at  Cranberry  Forge  ;  six  times  at  a  private  house  near 
Valle  Crucis.  Owing  to  the  severity  of  the  weather  I  was 
prevented  from  having  a  congregation  for  nearly  two  months, 
during  January,  and  February.  Baptisms  5.  Confirmations 
5.     Communicants  17.     Offerings  $3.50." 

Bishop  Atkinson  visited  the  Watauga  coun- 
try in  '55. 

"August  28th,  at  Valle  Crucis,  Mr.  Skiles  baptized  an 
adult.  I  preached,  confirmed  five  persons,  and  administered 
the  Holy  Communion,  assisted  by  Mr,  Prout." 


120    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

Mr.  Skiles  was  now  living  with  Mr.  Evans, 
at  Lower  Watauga.  He  gave  up  his  schools 
at  this  date,  and  devoted  his  time  entirely  to 
religious  duties  at  his  many  scattered,  and 
widely  distant  stations,  holding  services,  cate- 
chizing, baptizing,  visiting  and  nursing  the 
sick.  Scarcely  a  log  cabin  in  that  region  where 
the  Missionary,  and  his  horse  "  Henry  "  were 
not  well  known.  The  good  people  at  the  dif- 
ferent stations  were  always  friendly,  and  hos- 
pitable; they  provided  for  himself,  and  his 
horse,  but  could  make  him  no  payment,  be- 
yond an  occasional  gift  from  some  Christian 
woman  of  a  pair  of  socks,  or  a  cake  of  maple 
sugar.  His  stipend  was  now  however,  raised 
by  the  Diocese  to  $150.  He  was  much  re- 
spected by  the  country  people,  and  the  hearts 
of  many  in  those  rude  isolated  homes  warmed 
towards  him  with  kindly  feeling  in  gratitude 
for  his  teaching  the  children,  and  his  services 
among  the  sick.  At  Lower  Watauga  the  re- 
ligious interest,  in  connection  with  Mr.  Skiles' 
labours,  was  increasing  so  decidedly  that  it 
was  thought  a  small  Church  would  soon  be 
needed. 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.    121 

Bishop  Atkinson  came  again  to  the  Wa- 
tauga country  in  '59: 

"  August  2>otk  :  I  preached  at  a  small  meeting-house  on 
the  Lower  Watauga.  Here  efforts  are  making  to  build  a 
Church. 

"  Sept.  1st :  I  preached  and  confirmed  one  person  at  Boon 
(the  county  seat  of  Watauga),  the  first  instance  of  that  rite 
being  administered,  or  indeed  of  a  Bishop  visiting  that  place 

"  Sept.  2>d .'  I  preached  and  confirmed  two  persons  at  Jef- 
ferson (the  county  seat  of  Ashe).  In  this  place  also,  the  rite 
was  administered  for  the  first  time.  In  the  evening  I  bap- 
tized a  coloured  child." 

Bishop  Atkinson  became  very  much  inter- 
ested in  Mr.  Skiles,  and  his  work  ;  this  interest 
increased  with  every  Visitation.  He  generally 
invited  the  Deacon  to  accompany  him  on  a  cir- 
cuit, more  or  less  extended.  On  one  occasion 
he  took  him  to  Asheville,  and  in  a  letter  men- 
tions the  knowledge  of  the  country  shown 
by  Mr.  Skiles,  with  his  admiration  of  the 
beautiful  landscape,  and  his  interest  in  the 
trees,  and  plants.  The  Bishop  was  much  im- 
pressed with  the  personal  character  of  his 
companion,  so  simple,  and  guileless,  yet  so 
strong  and  faithful  in  uprightness. 

The  Report  of  the   Missionary  for  the  same 


122    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

year,  shows  the  usual  amount  of  steady  per- 
severing labour.  It  is  contained  in  a  few 
words ;  but  the  amount  of  fatigue,  and  expo- 
sure necessarily  connected  with  his  work,  in 
a  climate  severe  during  the  cold  months,  and. 
over  forest  tracks  often  dangerous,  can  scarcely 
be  understood  by  the  reader  unacquainted 
with  that  wild  mountain  region.  In  winter  it 
is  almost  Alpine  in  character.  He  travelled 
over  a  belt  of  country  some  sixty  miles  in 
extent,  though  his  usual  course  was  more 
limited : 

"  Baptisms  9.  Confirmations  3.  Communicants  16.  Offer- 
ings $2.  I  have  held  Divine  service  at  Lower  Watauga 
once  a  month  ;  at  Jefferson  once  a  month  ;  occasionally  at 
Valle  Crucis,  Easter  Chapel,  Boon,  Elk  Cross-Roads,  Cran- 
berry Forge,  and  Linnville.  I  have  filled  all  appointments 
except  one  Sunday.  Once  I  officiated  at  Lenoir.  I  feel 
cause  for  encouragement  from  the  increased  interest  mani- 
fested in  the  services,  and  larger  attendance  for  some  time 
past." 

In  '58  the  Bishop  came  again  to  the 
Watauga  country  : 

"Aug.  15th:  Preached  at  Valle  Crucis,  confirmed  four 
persons,  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

"Aug.  21st  and  22nd  at  Morganton  preached  four  times, 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.    1 23 

baptized  two  infants,  confirmed  four  persons,  and  administered 
the  Holy  Communion,  Mr.  Skiles  assisting  me  in  all  the 
services." 

The  Report  of  Mr.  Skiles  for  the  same  year, 
shows  a  large  amount  of  work,  in  a  wide  field  : 

"I  have  performed  Divine  service  at  the  following  places, 
since  the  last  Convention  :  Once  a  month  at  Lower  Watauga  ; 
once  a  month,  excepting  January,  at  Jefferson  ;  at  Wilkes- 
borough  ;  at  St.  James'  Church,  Lenoir,  seven  Sundays  ;  in 
the  valley  of  the  Yadkin  once  ;  three  Sundays  at  Grace 
Church,  Morganton  ;  once  on  John's  River ;  one  Sunday  on 
New  River ;  near  Morganton  4  Baptisms  ;  one  Sunday  on 
Linnville  ;  once  at  Asheville  ;  performed  several  services  at 
Hendersonville  ;  occasional  services  at  Easter  Chapel,  at 
school-house  near  Valle  Crucis,  Elk  Cross-Roads,  and  twice 
at  Valle  Crucis.  Baptisms  9  ;  Confirmations  5  ;  Communi- 
cants 23.     Offerings,  for  Church  Building  Fund,  $7.25." 

Here  are  services  held  at  sixteen  different 
places,  many  of  them  widely  distant  from 
each  other.  He  must  have  travelled  more 
than  1,000  miles  during  the  year.  His  services 
among  the  sick  were  frequent  as  ever.  Mr. 
Evans  remarks  that  on  any  application  for  a 
pastoral  service,  "  he  would  saddle  '  Henry  ' 
and    ride   over  the   mountains,  ten,  fifteen,  or 


124    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

even  twenty  miles,  often  in  stormy  weather, 
in  order  to  pray  with  a  sick  person,  or  act  as 
nurse."  In  case  of  severe  illness  he  would  at 
times  remain  several  days  in  some  distant  log 
cabin.  On  these  occasions  "  Henry  "  carried 
his  master  safely  over  dangerous  roads,  by 
day  or  night,  being  very  sure-footed  ;  he  was 
a  very  spirited  animal,  capable  of  giving 
trouble  to  an  ordinary  rider,  but  it  was  re- 
marked that  he  was  always  quiet  with  Father 
Skiles,  never  even  attempting  a  caper  with 
him.  The  Missionary  took  all  the  care  of 
"  Henry"  himself,  rubbing  him  down,  feeding 
him,  and  attending  to  all  his  wants.  The  un- 
derstanding between  the  kind  owner  and  his 
horse  was  perfect. 

Speaking  of  the  character  of  Mr.  Skiles, 
his  friend,  Mr.  Evans,  remarks :  "  He  was 
kind  to  every  one,  and  everything,  especially 
what  was  under  his  care."  "  He  was  ever 
patient,  kind,  and  gentle."  "  He  was  full  of  a 
constant,  persistent,  looking  to  duty,  and 
living  for  duty." 

Mr.  Prout  also,  speaking  of  the  good  man's 
character    remarks    that    "  he     was    cheerful, 


MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.    12$ 

genial,  patient.  His  manner  commended  him 
to  the  people.  He  had  a  cordiality,  discretion, 
and  suavity,  rarely  seen  combined." 

The  heart  of  the  Missionary  was  now  full  of 
the  little  Church,  planned  a  year  or  two  earlier. 
The  Sunday  attendance  at  Lower  Watauga 
had  become  too  large  for  any  room  in  the 
settlement,  and  the  first  steps  were  taken  for 
building.  The  position  chosen  for  this  little 
Church  was  very  pleasing,  on  a  high  bank 
whose  base  was  washed  by  the  clear  musical 
waters  of  the  Watauga,  while  fine  mountains, 
still  clothed  with  broad  reaches  of  the  ancient 
forest,  looked  down  upon  the  quiet  spot.  The 
scattered  dwellings  of  the  hamlet  were  seen 
here  and  there,  on  their  small  farms.  The 
distance  from  Valle  Crucis  was  about  six 
miles,  and  the  house  of  Mr.  Evans,  now  the 
home  of  the  Missionary,  was  about  a  mile 
distant,  higher  up  the  river.  With  the  help 
of  some  architectural  designs,  and  with  the 
advice  of  more  experienced  friends,  he  was 
enabled  to  plan  a  pleasing  building,  simple 
but  church-like  in  its  whole  character.  The 
raising   of  the  necessary  funds  was    no  light 


126    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST  SKILES. 

task  among  a  people  so  very  poor.  There 
was  very  little  money  in  all  that  region. 
Many  were  the  mites  thrown  into  that  rustic 
treasury  by  the  women,  mites  earned  by  the 
sale  of  butter,  honey,  yarn,  etc.  The  poorer 
men  gave  lumber  and  labour.  A  few  families, 
more  at  ease,  gave  very  generously.  There 
was  not  one  rich  man  in  all  the  region  watered 
by  the  Watauga.  But  there  were  men  of 
generous  hearts,  and  open  hands,  who  gave 
freely  to  the  building  of  the  Lord's  house.  A 
few  gifts  of  $10,  or  $20,  and  in  one  instance 
$50,  were  offered  for  the  pious  work.  One 
good  friend  in  the  valley  subscribed  $50,  and 
gave  the  logs  needed,  which  he  had  drawn 
from  his  own  land  to  the  mill,  and  later  the 
lumber  was  drawn  by  him  to  the  building  site. 
The  Church  was  to  be  a  wooden  one,  a  frame 
of  timber,  with  boarded  sides.  It  was  to  be 
painted  white.  The  work  went  on  very  slowly 
for  awhile";  gathering  funds  and  materials  was 
no  easy  task. 

Meanwhile  the  pastoral  work  of  the  Mission- 
ary was  carried  on  with  the  usual  patient  fidel- 
ity.    In  the  summer  of  '59  Bishop  Atkinson 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.    1 27 

again  crossed  the  mountains  to  visit  this  hum- 
ble flock. 

"  August  2$th  at  Valle  Crucis  I  preached,  and  administered 
the  Holy  Communion,  and  also  confirmed  five  persons." 

A  few  weeks  after  this  Visitation  the  Mission- 
ary had  the  pleasure  of  breaking  ground  for  the 
little  Church,  and  laying  the  foundation.  Mr. 
Skiles*  Report  for  the  same  year  contains  the 
following  items: 

"  Baptisms  11.  Confirmations,  5.  Communicants  24. 
Contributions  :  Education  Fund  $5  ;  Church  Building  So- 
ciety $12.80.  Offerings  at  Communion  $6.  Total  $23.80. 
I  have  performed  Divine  Service  at  the  following  places  : 
Lower  Watauga;  Valle  Crucis;  Linnville ;  Easter  Chapel; 
Elk  Cross-Roads  ;  Jefferson  ;  New  River  ;  once  at  Pisgah;  once 
near  Elizabethtown  in  Tennessee  ;  one  Sunday  in  Statesville  ; 
one  Sunday  in  Wilkesborough  ;  two  Sundays  at  Gwyn's 
Chapel.  I  commenced  building  a  Church  on  Lower  Watauga 
last  fall,  and  hope,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  to  complete  it  dur- 
ing the  present  year." 


XIII. 

The  pious  wish  of  the  good  man  was  fulfilled. 
The  work  on  the  little  Church  went  on  slowly, 
but  steadily,  during  the  summer  of  '60,  and 
every  leisure  hour  of  the  Missionary  was  passed 
in  superintending  the  details.  The  walls,  of  up- 
right  planks,  battened,  and  painted  white  with- 
out, were  neatly  plastered  within.  The  roof 
was  open  showing  the  timbers.  As  soon  as 
the  building  was  fairly  enclosed,  the  services 
were  held  there.  The  entire  cost  of  the  Church 
was  $700,  of  which  more  than  one-third  was 
given  by  the  Missionary  himself.  It  was  his 
wish  that  St.  John  the  Baptist  should  have 
windows  of  stained  glass.  The  wish  was  grati- 
fied; the  windows,  simple,  but  pleasing,  and 
appropriate  in  design,  were  sent  by  Mr.  Sharp, 
the  skilful  artist  in  New  York,  at  a  reduced 
price,  and  Mr.  Evans  gave  $40  towards  the 
cost.  Probably  those  coloured  windows  were 
the  first  brought  over  the  rough  roads  of  the 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.    1 29 

Blue  Ridge,  into  the    isolated  valleys  of  that 

region. 

The  dark  war-cloud  of  the  period  was  slowly 
gathering  over  the  country.      Its  shadows  fell 
heavily  on  every  Christian  heart  in  the  land. 
William  Skiles  loving,  and  peaceable  by  nature, 
felt  these  disturbances  deeply.      He  now  met 
with  peculiar  difficulties  in  performing  his  pas- 
toral duties.     The  people  of  his  scattered  flock 
were  divided  in  their  opinions,  some    leaning 
in  one  direction,  some  in  the  other.     Still,  every 
Lord's  Day,  when  the  roads  were  at  all  passable, 
he  mounted  his  horse  "  Henry,"  and  rode  out 
to  keep  some  appointment.     At  most  of  the 
stations  he  still  found  a  good  attendance,  but 
the  hearts  of  the  people  were  somewhat  chilled, 
and    more    indifferent   to    religious    subjects. 
During  part  of  the  winter  the  mountain  roads 
were  impassable  from  the  floods,  the  streams 
were  all  swollen  to  torrents.     Still  he  kept  up 
monthly  services  at  St.  John  the  Baptist,  and 
at  Pisgah.     In  May  he  sent  to  the  Convention 
the  Report  of  his  year's  work  : 

"I  have   held  Divine  Service  at  the  following  places:    At 
Lower  Watauga  ;   Elk  Cross-Roads  ;  Valle  Crucis  ;  Upper  Wa- 
9 


130    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

tauga  ;  Cranberry  Forge,  and  Richlands.  I  established  a  new 
Missionary  station  on  the  Linnville,  where  I  have  held 
monthly  services,  and  with  the  aid  of  a  few  zealous  members 
of  the  Church,  there  has  been  established  a  flourishing  Sunday 
School.  The  attendance  at  the  services  of  the  Church  have 
been  generally  good,  such  as  to  encourage  me  in  the  hope 
that  the  seed  sown  may  yet  bring  forth  a  fruitful  harvest. 
Since  last  Convention  I  have  finished  a  small  but  neat  and 
comfortable  Church  at  Lower  Watauga,  which  is  now  ready 
for  Consecration,  for  which  I  feel  very  grateful.  Baptisms 
10  ;  Confirmation  I  ;   Communicants,  32." 

Bishop  Atkinson  was  prevented  from  visit- 
ing the  Watauga  Country  in  1861.  But  in  the 
summer  of  '62  he  came  into  that  region,  and 
one  object  of  his  Visitation  was  to  consecrate 
the  little  Church  at  Lower  Watauga,  which 
stood  awaiting  the  solemn  service,  entirely 
finished,  and  free  from  debt. 

The  22nd  of  August  1862  must  have  been  a 
happy  day  for  William  Skiles.  On  that  day 
the  beautiful  Consecration  service  was  per- 
formed and  he  joined  in  the  solemn  prayers  of 
dedication  : 

"Vouchsafe,  O  Lord,  to  be  present  with  us,  who  are  here 
gathered  together  with  all  humility  and  readiness  of  heart,  to 
consecrate  this  place  to  the  honour  of  Thy  great  Name  ;  sep- 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.    131 

arating  it  henceforth  from  all  unhallowed,  ordinary,  and  com- 
mon uses  ;  and  dedicating  it  to  Thy  service,  for  reading  Thy 
holy  Word,  for  celebrating  Thy  holy  Sacraments,  for  offer- 
ing to  Thy  glorious  Majesty  the  sacrifices  of  prayer  and 
thanksgiving,  for  blessing  Thy  people  in  Thy  Name,  and  for 
the  performance  of  all  other  holy  offices  :  accept,  O  Lord, 
this  service  at  our  hands,  and  bless  it  with  such  success  as 
may  tend  most  to  Thy  glory,  and  the  furtherance  of  our  hap. 
piness  both  temporal  and  spiritual  ;  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour." 

How  heartily  must  the  spirit  of  the  good 
Deacon  have  entered  into  that  prayer  ! 

The  Bishop  preached  an  impressive  sermon 
from  the  text:  "Jesus  Christ,  the  same  yes- 
terday, to-day,  and  for  ever." 

During  the  service  a  lame  young  man,  anx- 
ious to  be  present,  was  brought  in  by  his 
friends  in  a  chair,  and  placed  in  the  open  space 
facing  the  chancel.  The  Bishop's  eye  fell 
upon  him  while  preaching,  and  he  alluded  to 
the  fact : 

11  People  brought  their  sick  friends  to  Christ,  and  He  healed 
them.  You  have  brought  your  friend  here  to-day  in  his  chair, 
and  we  feel  sure  He  is  just  as  ready  to  bless  that  helpless  one, 
and  all  now  gathered  in  this  place  of  worship,  as  He  was 
then  to  bless  those  who  needed  healing,  and  forgiveness.    The 


132    MEMOIR  OF    WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

blessing  may  be  upon  the  soul  now,  but  blessings  to  the  soul, 
are  even  more  precious  than  healing  the  body." 

There  was  a  crowd  of  the  mountain  folk 
attending  the  service,  both  within,  and  with- 
out the  white  walls  of  the  church. 

The  solemn  service  over  the  Clergy  left  the 
little  Church,  and  the  next  day  went  on  their 
way  to  other  appointments. 

William  Skiles  never  saw  again  the  Church 
of  St.  John  the  Baptist.  The  holy  desire  of 
his  heart  had  been  granted  ;  in  poverty,  and 
failing  health,  he  had  been  enabled,  by  the 
blessing  of  God,  to  build  the  Church,  to  per- 
form many  services  within  its  walls,  and  at 
length  to  take  part  in  its  Consecration.  He 
left  Watauga  the  day  after  the  Consecration, 
with  Bishop  Atkinson,  whom  he  accompanied 
to  the  house  of  Colonel  Palmer  in  Mitchell 
County,  where  other  duties  awaited  him. 


XIV. 

The  stormy  tide  of  war  was  rolling  nearer  and 
nearer.  Colonel  Palmer  had  taken  command 
of  a  regiment  in  the  Confederate  army,  and 
was  about  to  leave  home.  The  ladies  of  his 
family  were  living  at  their  solitary  country 
house  on  the  Linnville  River.  Unwilling  to 
leave  them  entirely  unprotected,  he  urged  Mr. 
Skiles  to  remove  to  his  house  for  the  present, 
that  his  wife  and  nieces  might  have  a  respect- 
able man  to  look  to  in  case  of  danger  from 
any  roving  band  of  bushwhackers  that  infested 
the  country.  Mr.  Skiles  rather  shrunk  at  first 
from  the  responsibility,  in  his  feeble  condi- 
tion of  health,  but  eventually  decided  to  go 
to  Linnville.  He  left  Watauga  with  Bishop 
Atkinson,  and  accompanied  him  to  Colonel 
Palmer's  house.  The  service  of  manly  kindness 
he  then  assumed,  became  the  last  act  of  a  faith- 
ful Christian  life.  He  was  not  called  upon  to 
repel  violence  in  any  way  ;  possibly  the  mere 


134    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES. 

knowledge  that  the  Missionary  was  in  the 
house  may  have  prevented  the  approach  of 
any  unprincipled  rovers.  But  he  was  at  his 
post — and  he  died  there. 

His  health  became  rapidly  worse  ;  he  was 
soon  too  ill  to  hold  service,  or  visit,  and  pray 
with  the  people,  as  usual.  In  the  course  of 
a  short  time  he  was  entirely  confined  to  his 
room.  And  his  sufferings  were  severe.  He 
knew  the  nature  of  his  disease,  an  internal  can- 
cerous affection,  brought  on,  it  was  said,  by 
hardship,  and  exposure.  The  nearest  physi- 
cian lived  at  Morganton,  thirty  miles  distant. 
Twice  he  was  sent  for,  and  came  up  into  the 
mountains  to  prescribe  for  the  sick  man  ;  but 
medicine  could  give  little  relief.  Not  a  man 
or  woman  capable  of  nursing  him  could  then 
be  found  in  that  region,  which  was  very  deso- 
late, and  dreary.  But  he,  who  had  so  long 
nursed  the  poor,  in  their  log  cabins,  was  not 
left  uncared  for.  Mrs.  Palmer  devoted  herself 
to  the  sad  charge,  remaining  in  his  room  much 
of  the  time,  and  doing  all  in  her  power  to  re- 
lieve his  sufferings,  which  he  bore  with  the 
most   beautiful   Christian   patience   and    forti- 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.    1 35 

tude.  He  never  complained,  or  murmured, 
and  when  the  lady  expressed  her  surprise  at 
his  remarkable  patience,  he  replied  he  was 
only  sorry  for  the  trouble  he  gave  her.  It  was 
a  trial  to  Mrs.  Palmer  to  feel  that,  in  spite  of 
all  her  efforts,  she  could  not  make  him  so  com- 
fortable as  a  stronger  nurse  might  have  done. 
But  this  feeling  he  never  seemed  to  share ;  he 
was  simply  grateful  for  the  kind  care  he  re- 
ceived, grieved  for  the  trouble  he  gave,  and 
not  for  his  own  sufferings.  "  How  can  you 
be  so  patient,  Mr.  Skiles  ?  "  the  lady  said  to 
him  in  constant  surprise  at  his  gentle  endur- 
ance. "  I  am  only  sorry  for  the  trouble  I  give 
you,"  was  always  his  reply. 

The  months  of  October,  and  November, 
passed  away.  He  grew  more  feeble,  and  help- 
less— at  times  too  feeble  to  speak  to  his  kind 
nurse.  At  length  early  in  December  he  was 
peacefully  released ;  passing  away,  as  Mrs. 
Palmer  said,  "  in  such  perfect  submission,  and 
such  infant-like  gentleness,  as  none  could  have 
conceived,  who  had  not  been  present." 

It  was  December  8th,  1862,  that  he  died.  His 
remains  were   decently  laid  out  by  one  of  the 


136    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

nearest  neighbours.  Messengers,  and  letters 
were  sent  to  the  Bishop,  and  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Wetmore,  his  warm  personal  friend.  It  was 
impossible  to  send  to  Morganton  for  a  coffin. 
A  rough  box  of  boards  was  made  on  the  spot 
by  a  neighbour.  Mrs.  Palmer  herself  put  on 
his  surplice,  unwilling  that  a  hireling  should 
perform  that  service  for  him.  His  grave  was 
dug  in  the  garden,  near  the  house,  and  here  he 
was  buried.  But  this  was  not  to  be  his  last 
resting-place. 

Mr.  Wetmore  had  been  with  him  in  Septem- 
ber, and  promised  to  visit  him  again.  Early 
in  December  he  left  home  to  fulfil  this  prom- 
ise, but  on  reaching  the  Watauga  he  learned 
that  his  friend  was  no  longer  living.  He  then 
turned  up  the  stream,  intending  to  cross  the 
mountains  to  Colonel  Palmer's.  After  riding 
only  two  miles  he  found  the  road  almost  im- 
passable, from  the  height  of  the  waters,  and 
the  ice  on  all  the  smaller  streams.  There  were 
eighteen  or  twenty  crossing-places,  on  the 
Linnville  alone,  and  these  were  all  frozen,  and 
unsafe.  Such  was  the  rude  track  over  which 
the  faithful  Missionary  had  so  often  passed  to 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.    1 37 

keep  his  appointments.  But  "Henry"  was 
sure-footed.  Mr.  Wetmore's  horse  came  from 
the  low  country,  and  was  not  properly  shod 
for  crossing  the  ice.  Mr.  Wetmore  returned 
down  the  stream  to  Mr.  Henry  Taylor's,  on 
the  Watauga,  and  the  next  day  passed  on  to 
the  house  of  Mr.  Evans.  On  Sunday  he  held 
service  at  St.  John  the  Baptist.  Mr.  Hardin 
was  there  from  Cranberry  Forge  and  he  pro- 
posed that  arrangements  should  be  immedi- 
ately made  for  removing  the  remains  of  their 
faithful  Pastor,  and  bringing  his  body  over  to 
be  interred  in  the  Church-yard  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist.  This  pious  duty  was  at  once  fulfilled. 
The  ice  having  melted  Mr.  Wetmore  went 
over  the  Mountains  on  Monday  to  Colonel 
Palmer's  house.  The  following  day,  December 
1 6th,  the  remains  were  taken  from  the  garden 
grave,  placed  in  a  waggon,  and  carried  rever- 
ently to  Mr.  Hardin's  house,  where  the  faithful 
departed  had  so  often  held  services.  There 
they  rested  that  night.  The  next  day  they 
were  taken  down  to  Watauga,  to  the  house  of 
Mr.  Evans.  There  was  a  severe  snow-storm 
in  the  mountains  at  the  time.     On  Thursday, 


138    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

the  18th,  the  little  Church  was  opened  for  the 
regular  funeral  service.  There  was  a  small 
congregation,  about  forty,  at  that  inclement 
season,  but  the  hearts  of  all  present  were 
touched  with  a  feeling  of  reverent,  sincere, 
sorrow.  Mr.  Wetmore  preached  the  funeral 
sermon. 

The  grave  was  dug  in  the  snow,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Church,  beneath  a  white  pine,  a 
laurel,  and  an  oak. 

There,  beneath  the  shadow  of  the  little  white 
church,*  the  pure  waters  of  the  Watauga  sing- 
ing a  perpetual  requiem,  repose  the  remains  of 

*[In  the  year  1882,  the  Church  of  St.  John  Baptist  was  re- 
moved in  sections,  to  a  spot  higher  up  on  the  Watauga,  and 
put  together  again,  under  the  superintendence  of  Rev.  Geo. 
Bell.  This  was  done  for  the  convenience  of  the  Church  neigh- 
bourhood. 

During  the  present  year,  1889,  the  Remains  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Skiles,  were  removed,  under  Mr.  Bell's  charge,  to  the  new 
site  of  St.  John  Baptist,  and  decently  and  reverently  com- 
mitted to  their  final  resting-place,  in  a  grave  dug  by  the  side 
of  the  Church  he  loved  so  well,  amid  a  large  assembly  of 
people  who  had  come  together  to  do  their  old  minister  honour. 

The  tombstone  of  marble  (which  went  from  Asheville) 
bears  the  inscription  : 

William  W.  Skiles, 

Died  Dec.  8    1862 — in  peace. 

"  Blessed  are  the  Dead  who  die  in  the  Lord."—  Rev.] 


MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM   WEST   SKILES.    1 39 

the  faithful  servant  of  God.  Loved  by  little 
children,  the  "Nestor"  of  his  younger  breth- 
ren of  the  Divinity  School  at  Valle  Crucis, 
revered  by  his  scattered  flock,  sincerely  re- 
spected by  the  older,  and  most  influential 
Clergy  of  the  Diocese,  and  honoured  by  his 
Bishop,  the  life  of  that  humble  man  becomes 
a  striking  example  of  love  to  God,  and  love  to 
his  fellow-man. 

Faithful,  with  a  rare  fidelity,  over  a  few 
things,  we  know  that  his  reward  must  be  great 
in  the  joy  of  his  Lord. 

Extract  from  the  address  of  Bishop  Atkin- 
son, to  the  Convention  of  North  Carolina,  de- 
livered in  St.  John's  Church,  Fayetteville,  May 
15th,  1863  : 

"  On  the  22nd  of  August  I  consecrated  the  Church  of  St. 
John  the  Baptist  in  Watauga  County,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Skiles 
reading  prayers,  and  the  sentence  of  Consecration,  and  I 
preaching  the  sermon.  The  Church,  Gothic,  and  with  win- 
dows of  stained  glass,  would  anywhere  be  a  pleasing  object, 
but  in  that  sequestered,  and  picturesque  spot,  with  the  bright 
waters  of  the  Watauga  washing  the  foot  of  the  hill  on  which 
it  is  built,  and  the  high  mountains  standing  as  a  guard  around 
it,  it  is  a  touching,  and  appropriate  memorial  of  that  man  of 
God,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Skiles,  to  whom   its   erection  was  so  long 


I40    MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES. 

a  darling  object,  and  by  whose  unrelaxing  efforts,  this  was 
at  length  accomplished.  He  was  one  whom  all  loved  and 
honoured  for  his  humility,  his  self-denial,  his  diligence,  his 
affectionate  temper  towards  his  fellow-men,  his  unwearied  zeal 
in  the  service  of  his  Master.  He  was  permitted  to  live  until 
he  saw  the  Church  consecrated,  and  some  of  the  living  fruits 
of  his  self-denying  labours  gathered  in.  From  that  day  he 
never  saw  it  again.  *  *  *  He  was  a  true  Missionary, 
humble,  patient,  laborious,  and  affectionate,  not  despising  the 
day  of  small  things,  and  still  less  despising  any  human  soul, 
however  rude,  sin-stained,  and  ignorant  that  soul  might  be. 
Long  will  the  dwellers  in  the  valleys  and  forests  of  that  wild 
mountain  region  miss  their  faithful  Pastor,  who  was  at  the 
same  lime  their  Physician,  their  counseller,  and  their  familiar 
friend.  It  is  a  consolation  to  know  that  his  last  days  were 
cheered  by  the  respect,  and  affection,  and  Christian  sympathy 
of  the  family  of  Colonel  Palmer,  whose  house  was  a  second 
home  to  him,  his  established  residence  being  with  his  tried 
friend  Mr.  George  N.  Evans,  of  Watauga." 


Resolutions  at  the  same  Convention  offered 
by  the  Rev.  Henry  H.  Prout  : 

' *  Among  those  whom  the  Church  in  North  Carolina  mourns, 
the  Council  desires  to  keep  in  remembrance  the  name,  and 
character,  of  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Skiles.  His  residence  in  the 
Western  part  of  the  Diocese  for  nearly  eighteen  years,  and 
faithful  Missionary  labours  there,  the  Church  refers  to  with 
peculiar  satisfaction.      He  has  been  an  illustration  of  the  quiet. 


MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM    WEST   SKILES.    141 

discreet,  persevering  zeal  which  is  most  earnestly  to  be  en- 
couraged in  her  Ministers,  and  lay  members.  Therefore  the 
Council  Resolves, 

11  First :  That  the  calling  from  us,  by  death,  of  the  Rev.  W. 
W.  Skiles  leaves  to  us  the  cheering  memory  of  a  very  beautiful, 
genial,  guileless  character. 

"  Secondly  :  The  Council  remembers  with  thankfulness  to 
the  Giver  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift,  his  blameless  zeal, 
his  discreet  earnestness,  and  his  patient  devotion  to  the  work 
of  Diocesan  Missions  in  the  mountains  of  the  State. 

"  Thirdly  :  We  gather  from  this  and  like  instances  of  losses 
of  Brethren  by  death,  that  our  treasures  are  taken  from  us  and 
placed  on  high,  that  there  our  hearts  may  be  also. 

"Fourthly  :  As  a  Council  we  implore  the  Lord  of  the  Church 
to  raise  up  faithful  Missionaries  to  fill  the  now  needy  stations 
left  vacant  by  the  removal  of  those  we  love. 

"Adopted,  unanimously,  May  16th,  1863." 


Some  thirteen  years  later,  in  May,  1876, 
Bishop  Lyman,  in  his  address  to  the  Diocesan 
Convention,  speaking  of  the  Watauga  country, 
remarked  : 

"I  was  touched  by  the  affectionate  mention  made  by  so 
many  in  that  region  of  the  faithful  labours  of  the  Rev.  W. 
W.  Skiles,  whose  death  some  years  since,  has  deprived  the 
simple-hearted  people  of  a  Shepherd  whom  they  deeply  loved, 
and  honoured." 


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